<div><main data-testid="main-content" id="main-content"><article><header></header><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><picture><source srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png.webp 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png.webp 976w" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="A phone, held in two hands, displays a screen from Pokémon Go. It's an information square that takes up the top half of the screen - the square's split in half. The top half is a picture of four player characters, two male, two female, all wearing white t-shirts and pulling determined poses. Above them the text &quot;Total KM explored: 22KM&quot; is visible. The bottom half of the square is white - it shows four circles, each containing a picture of the player avatar's face and a number underneath. Below that an green oblong button with &quot;share&quot; on it in white text can be seen. The screen surrounding the square is a coloured background on a light blue to light green gradient." height="549" loading="eager" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/105A8/production/_131548966_partyrecap.png 976w" width="976"></img></picture></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>Niantic</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>The company that makes Pokémon Go, Niantic, is hoping new features can bring people back to the game</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="byline-block"><div><div><div><p>By Andrew Rogers</p><p>BBC Newsbeat</p></div></div></div></div><div data-component="text-block"><p><b>For decades now, fans of Pokémon have been on a mission to "catch 'em all".</b></p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Crazes have followed the cute creatures since they first launched on Nintendo's Game Boy in 1996 - with their surprise success sparking a global frenzy dubbed "Pokémania".</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>And in 2016, it felt like everyone was hunting for virtual monsters once again when Pokémon Go fever seemed to sweep the globe.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The smash-hit mobile game used augmented reality (AR) to take the search from the sofa to the streets, and its early days were marked by regular crashes due to extreme demand.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Millions still play daily, according to Niantic, the company behind it, but the game has struggled to recapture that early success. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>User numbers are way down since that early peak and long-time fans are unhappy at recent changes.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Nevertheless, the game's creator John Hanke insists the game is "definitely going very strong" when BBC Newsbeat joins him for a Pokémon hunt in a central London park.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Of course, you'd expect him to say that, but he does have a track record for making a success of software.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Even if you've never snaffled a Snorlax, poached a Pikachu or collared a Charizard in Pokémon Go there's a pretty good chance you've used one of his other inventions, Google Maps. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Pokémon Go is based on technology from Google Maps and Niantic's first game, Ingress - a capture the flag-style multiplayer game where teams battle to control territories.</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>John Hanke says he's optimistic about the future of games like Pokémon Go</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>John says his inspiration for Google Maps was using new technology to help people find useful information, and he's still excited about ways to use new devices such as smart glasses, headsets and connected watches. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Phones are good because it's the technology we have today," he says. "But it's still not perfect, because it's kind of distracting."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"I'm most excited about those that don't cut you off from other people," says John.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>John says he's taking a particular interest in mixed reality devices, such as Instagram owner Meta's new headsets and <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-65809408">Apple's Vision Pro</a>, launching next year. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Those are the kinds of devices that we're leaning into," he says.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Because they're devices you can use when you're out for a walk and with your friends, and they don't get in your way".</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>John predicts that "2024 is going to be a breakthrough year for AR", especially as it converges with artificial intelligence (AI).</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>He says Niantic is looking to deploy this in Pokémon Go to deepen the interplay between its real and virtual elements.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The company hopes to launch an AI-powered feature next year that will allow the creatures to be "situated in the environment and respond to things in the environment in a realistic way".</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>This paints a rosy picture of the future of augmented reality technology, but it isn't proving to be so simple. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>This summer, Niantic slashed its workforce by a quarter, laying off 230 employees and closing its office in Los Angeles. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>It also announced that many of its games based on popular franchises like Harry Potter, Marvel and Transformers would either not go ahead or would close early. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"It was very unfortunate that we had to do that," says John.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"But it did allow us to get smaller and more focused. In the end that's probably a healthy thing."</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>Niantic</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>The game was recently updated so you can see your friends on the same screen</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>While its other games have had mixed results, Niantic is hoping it can increase the time and money people spend in Pokémon Go, and tempt lapsed users back with new features and game modes.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The latest, called Party Play, focuses on something Pokémon Go has always done well - bringing people together. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Trainers, as players call themselves, can team up with three friends and see them on the same screen as they go out completing missions together. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>It mirrors the lively community scene that's built up around the game, with events still regularly taking place that bring fans on joint walks around their local areas. </p></div><p data-component="subheadline-block"><h2 id="Catching-feelings" tabindex="-1"><span role="text">Catching feelings</span></h2></p><div data-component="text-block"><p>For some, it's even led to them falling in love and finding themselves a new partner. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Enter Hilma, 22, and Albin, 26, who say their relationship is all thanks to Pokémon Go. Originally from Sweden, both moved to London to study fashion. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Albin says he decided to redownload the app when he realised Hilma was a trainer so he had an excuse to ask her out. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Our first date was a Pokémon Go date," says Hilma, adding that they've had lots more since. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The couple say the game has also helped them to make other friends and explore their new hometown. </p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>Hilma and Albin say Pokémon Go is the reason they're now a couple</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>In fact, they chose to do part of their course in London because it hosted a big event for fans, called Go Fest, this year. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Of course you get a lot of people that don't get it. But I think as soon as we explain, they understand," says Hilma.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"It's so uncool, so it's so fashion. Gaming is the most fashion thing you can do."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Albin says the idea of making Pokémon Go more realistic with wearable tech sounds interesting, but current headsets "would need to be a bit more slick than they are right now".</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Albin and Hilma aren't the first Pokémon Go couple John's met while travelling around the world. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Really early on there were people who were getting engaged, then getting married, and subsequently I've met their kids," says John.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"Seeing it be something that brings people together is heart-warming, particularly in a world where we need more things that bring us together."</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p><i>Listen to Newsbeat </i><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_one">live</a><i> at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back </i><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wkry/episodes/player">here</a>.</p></div></article></main></div>