Wait, is Japan included in the list of countries where Pokemon Go is available? No, no it’s not. But the app is finally coming to Nintendo’s home market, where swarms of Pokemon fans are probably anxiously waiting for the app to finally launch.
Better yet, Pokemon Go players in Japan will be the first ones to get access to a brand new feature, one that has the potential to be both annoying and awesome at the same time.
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Pokemon Go will feature advertising in Japan, something we knew was in the cards for the app. But the feature isn’t as annoying as it may sound at first glance.
Rather than pestering you with ads that can ruin the overall Pokemon Go playing experience, Niantic and Nintendo will be taking a different route. The companies are partnering with other companies to create unique in-game content.
The first company that’s rumored to get Pokemon Go prime placement is McDonalds. How is that a good thing for players? More than 3,000 restaurants across Japan will become Pokemon gyms for players, which means players would be able to fight battles while they’re having a meal.
Okay, so maybe playing an augmented reality game while eating doesn’t sound ideal. But this sort of cross-promotion would be beneficial for both Niantic and Nintendo, and other companies looking to cash in on the Pokemon craze. Players will likely appreciate some of these partnerships as well.
It’s not clear at this time when this feature will roll out in other markets. But it’s likely that McDonald’s will want to extend its Pokemon partnership across the world, assuming this report is accurate.
Niantic delayed the Japanese launch intentionally, Tech Crunch explains, to make sure the servers can handle the extra server strain coming from a country that might very well turn out to be the biggest market for Pokemon Go. The company previously said Japan will get the game by the end of July, but it looks like the release is now set for July 20th.
Following Japan, Pokemon Go might head to other Asian markets in the coming months.
