Pokémon Go gets a wearable AR demo, but there’s a catch
Never gonna catch ‘em all
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Pokémon Gofans were given a treat during theMicrosoftIgnite 2021 event in the form of a demo for an immersive augmented reality Pokémon experience. But even if you own aHoloLens 2you won’t be able to play it.
As explained by Niantic CEO John Hanke while he explored a real-world space surrounded by wild Pokémon with his partner Pikachu - this proof-of-concept merely “offers an early glimpse into the future evolutions in both software and hardware.”
Niantic - which is no stranger to both augmented and virtual reality with games like Pokemon Go andHarry Potter: Wizards Unite- has teamed up with Microsoft to work with its newMicrosoft MeshAR platform. We may see something like this demo headed our way in the future, then, but we just might have to wait several years first.
The Pokémon Go AR demo video
As captured in the video above, the demo sees John Hanke showing off what Pokémon Go could look like on the HoloLens 2 or a similar device. Wild Pokémon roam open spaces like they do in the TV show and mainline video games, and players can play with their partner Pokémon by interacting with a controllerless interface.
What is the future of AR gaming?
This Pokémon Go demo is exactly what many expect to be the future of AR gaming. Unlike VR - virtual reality as is seen with theOculus Quest 2andValve Index- AR, or augmented reality, doesn’t look to create a whole new world but instead builds off the one around us and adds to it.
In the case of Pokémon Go, this is introducing virtual critters into the environment. Other applications we’ve seen include being able to add information centers to real-world landmarks or letting users craft digital objects with their hands.
But if you thought VR was expensive, AR devices are in another league with the HoloLens 2 costing $3,500 (about £2,600 or AU$4,900) andApple’s upcoming AR lensrumored to sell for anywhere from $500 to $5,000.
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Over time we’ll hopefully see these wearable AR prices drop, letting us regular folk try out immersive AR for ourselves. Until then we’ll have to settle for Pokémon Go on our smartphones.
Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.
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