Under the Microsoft Ignite 2021 event, Microsoft Mesh is presented with a Pokémon GO demo on HoloLens 2. It is a game that is still alive and popular among some people. It is one of the greatest exponents of augmented reality games and Niantic showed a demo of what could be the experience if we could play Pokémon GO with HoloLens 2.
Playing Pokémon GO with HoloLens 2 can be a reality with Microsoft Mesh
The video is a proof of concept but it is not a product that is intended for the end consumer, at least for now. However, Niantic assured to be collaborating with Microsoft to build “new experiences that will weave together the digital and physical world.”
We’re thrilled to collaborate with @microsoft & @hololens on new experiences that will weave together the digital and physical world. Check out this proof-of-concept demo, built on our planet-scale platform, and the amazing possibilities that could await. https://t.co/ig0bQUIQ8b pic.twitter.com/gGk5djVayC
— Niantic, Inc. (@NianticLabs) March 2, 2021
As we can see in the video, John Hanke (CEO of Niantic), wearing HoloLens 2, walks through a park full of Pokémon. These are integrated into the scene itself, something that already happens in the original game (more or less). Some time ago, ‘Pokémon GO’ was updated to include an augmented reality system that allows the creatures to be integrated into the scene, so pokémons can be hidden behind objects if we move the camera.
In the demo, John opens the palm of his hand (just as he would do to open the HoloLens menu), and a game control panel appears, where he can choose a Pokémon. In this case, he chooses Pikachu and gives it a berry.
We see it from the outside, the user would see the image with his/her own eyes as if the Pokémon were in front of him. As explained in the video, the creature seems to be “alert” to what is happening around it. Pikachu tilts its head up to look him in the face and even turns around when the person moves.
Finally, the video ends with John meeting another person, who invites him to a Pokémon battle. This is an interesting concept that shows how augmented reality games could be in the future.