During a fascinating panel discussion at the inaugural PokémonXP in San Francisco, Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, offered a glimpse into the company’s vision for the future, hinting at deeper integrations with wearable technology. It seems the world of Pokémon is about to get even more connected.
Wearables: The Next Frontier for Pokémon
Ishihara, speaking on the “Producing Pokémon: A Conversation with Mr. Ishihara” panel, reflected on how Pokémon has adapted alongside major technological advancements in handheld gaming and wireless connectivity over the years. He acknowledged that the rise of smartphones necessitated a shift in approach, leading to accessories like the Pokéwalker and Pokémon GO Plus. But now, he envisions something even more integrated.
“In the past, these gadgets or companion accessories were kind of like these cool secret weapons you could pull out of your pocket and do something really cool with,” Ishihara explained. “But today I was thinking, going forward, maybe a challenge for us is going to be figuring out how we can integrate Pokémon more with some of the wearable technology, like smart watches, smart glasses, or even smart rings, for example.”
This comment arrives shortly after the REVEAL of the Fitbit Air Special Edition Pokémon Sleep, a wearable health tracker fully integrated with the Pokémon Sleep app, which gamifies sleep into collecting Pokémon. It’s clear that The Pokémon Company is actively exploring how to leverage wearable technology to enhance the Pokémon experience.
Ishihara, also the founder and former CEO of Creatures Inc., a co-owner of the Pokémon franchise alongside Nintendo and Game Freak, has witnessed the entire evolution of the franchise, from Pokémon Red and Green to the anime and trading card game. His passion for handheld gadgets and toys is evident in his vision for the future of Pokémon.
“I really hope Pokémon and the people who are stewarding it will continue to be creating entirely new forms of play that really excite people,” Ishihara stated. “And also that humanity, in general, will continue to really enjoy those experiences. And maybe even across three or four generations in the future.”
Casey DeFreitas, deputy editor of guides at IGN and a veteran of the Pokémon World Championships since 2017, is on-site at PokémonXP! Follow her on @ShinyCaseyD”>Twitter for more updates from the event.
Source: IGN Gaming
Comments
Be the first to comment.