While the game is now four years on from its release, Pokemon GO has still continued to drive a huge playerbase and last year saw its best month ever (in terms of revenue) since debuting in 2016. Most of all, the game has continued to highlight the importance of socially-minded gaming experiences and communities. As developer Niantic is preparing to launch the upcoming Pokemon GO Fest 2020, and in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the company is doing its part to help communities impacted by the pandemic’s effects on a local level. To do that, Niantic is setting up a new program to help bring assistance and awareness to support local and small businesses.
The developer has announced a new program it is setting up called the Niantic Local Business Recovery Initiative, which will assist businesses that have “experienced unprecedented hardship” over the past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the initiative will allow Pokemon GO players around the world to nominate their favorite local and small businesses–such as restaurants, cafes, stores, etc.– to participate in the recovery initiative.
We’re excited to announce our upcoming Niantic Local Business Recovery Initiative. Plus, take a look at a recap of some quality-of-life updates that we’ve made to the game over the last few months and how they’ll be maintained moving forward. https://t.co/IoZ6IjiYq1
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) June 15, 2020
From there, Niantic will select 1,000 nominated businesses from around the world and provide free in-game promotion in Pokemon GO for one year as a designated PokeStop or Gym. The developer will also be providing the selected businesses with additional tools for marketing and promotion in-game, while also giving them enhanced awareness and support for the places that Pokemon GO players love to go to the most.
Nominations for the Niantic Local Business Recovery Initiative are available now through Friday, July 31; for more information, you can head to Niantic’s official website for Pokemon GO.
Pokemon GO is available now on iOS and Android.
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