Pokemon Go’s Success May Have Had A Bigger Impact On Mobile Than Anybody Expected

Last year, virtual reality (VR) may have hit new heights in popularity, with various tech companies showcasing their cool new products and exciting breakthroughs in the field. But in 2017, many consider this year to be the year of augmented reality (AR), with some of the biggest tech brands in the world are certainly joining in on the party, including Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, and even Facebook. Of course, AR in itself is nothing new -- the concept has existed for some years already, but it was only relatively recently that the average consumer got a taste of how useful and fun AR could be. And we all have to thank Pokemon Go for that.

Some would be hesitant to name the Pokemon Go mobile game as the best example of AR. Sure, a game that involves finding cute monsters with even cuter names is certainly not as mind bending or as visionary as what we normally associate with AR. But we should give credit where it is due, and Pokemon Go has done so many things right when it comes to taking full advantage of the technology.

There are some of us who want AR to seamlessly blend in with our reality, and in that regard, Pokemon Go has cleverly decided to go for cute and fun instead of sheer verisimilitude. And it actually worked -- a cartoonish Bulbasaur would be more charming than a realistic version of the creature. Besides, people did not care -- perhaps because they actually appreciated the application of the technology more than its technical aesthetics. With the super huge success that the Pokemon Go mobile game has achieved, it is no surprise that other app creators would surely want to replicate that success. 

But Pokemon Go’s impact may be more than just a blueprint for success. Playing the AR driven game has actually made people more social, not only in the way it pulled players off their couch and out of their house or apartment, but also in a deeper level -- actually giving them something in common to bond over.

Is this how the future of AR will be? A tool for social interaction? The idea may not be too far fetched. We already live in a society that is social driven (for better or worse). Also, the younger generation already makes use of stickers and face filters on social media, and AR will definitely expand the possibilities of how we can use those in socializing with other people. 

Of course, the future is not written yet. AR could go to places we never even dreamed of. But the makers of Pokemon Go can pat themselves for helping AR get there.