Why is POKEMON GO so successful?
I think we are all overwhelmed of how the Pokemons got back into our lives. But what has driven this phenomenon? Below I list what i think have been the elements of this huge success.
First of all, its legacy. Pokemon has been very successful in the late 90s. Therefore, today’s millennials are completely familiar but most importantly nostalgic, of these characters. Pokemons are their childhood creatures coming alive in their adult environment…This works as a very powerful emotional trigger to download and play the game.
Secondly, its the augmented reality. This has been the most powerful entertainment technology innovation of the last years, which so far, we have been experiencing through specialized hardware – Oculus rift and Samsung Gear VR. Now it is massively liberated on a commoditized hardware –mobiles. Therefore, easy to use, widely available and massively involving.
Thirdly, the game itself is capitalizing on the unbeatable thrill that any “treasure hunt” game provides. It is surprising, addictive and familiar. It makes people explore their real environment in order to discover their beloved characters.
On the business side this initiative has also been a complete disruption in Nintendo’s product strategy. Moving their properties away from proprietary hardware and making it available on mobile has been a bold and successful change of their business model. I believe that this huge success will bring a complete re-evaluation of business models and practices in the gaming industry. Stay tuned. We will definitely see more of this.
