Pokémon Go AR Scan Feature Incentivizes Landmark Exploration

Pokémon GO Introduces Incentives for AR Landmark Scanning

Niantic has revealed a new Pokémon GO feature designed to encourage players to increase their participation in augmented reality (AR) scans of local landmarks. This crowdsourced data is crucial for the development of Niantic’s ambitious “real-world metaverse” project.

Leveraging User Data with Lightship ARDK

The foundation of this metaverse will be Lightship, Niantic’s freely available AR Development Kit (ARDK). The ARDK empowers developers to create their own AR experiences.

PokéStops and the Expansion of the Landmark Database

Pokémon GO players interact with PokéStops, which are digital representations of real-world locations. These locations can range from everyday objects to significant historical sites and interesting public art.

Niantic’s landmark database has grown substantially since the game’s launch. A significant portion of this initial data was contributed by players of Ingress, a previous Niantic title originating as a Google side project.

The AR Scanning Process

Performing an AR scan involves activating a scan button and slowly walking around the PokéStop while the device’s camera captures data about the surrounding environment.

Players have the flexibility to submit their scans to Niantic at a later time, potentially utilizing a Wi-Fi connection. These scans are instrumental in constructing a detailed 3D map for Niantic’s games and applications built with the ARDK.

New Incentives for Scanning

While scanning PokéStops and Gyms has been possible for some time, motivation for players was limited. Now, scanning a PokéStop will initiate a “power-up” effect.

This power-up provides enhanced in-game rewards for all players who visit the PokéStop before the effect expires. Spinning a PokéStop already grants items to aid in Pokémon capture, but a powered-up Stop yields an increased quantity.

PokéStop Power-Up Levels

PokéStops will progress through three distinct visual levels based on scan activity:

• Level 1: Achieved with 5 scans
• Level 2: Achieved with 10 scans
• Level 3: Achieved with 25 scans

Higher levels correlate with longer power-up durations and more substantial item rewards. For Niantic, each scan contributes to a more accurate and detailed dataset.

Niantic’s Vision for the Future

“Scanning new places will help create exciting new AR experiences for Trainers worldwide, and long term will help create a Real-World Metaverse, where people can explore the world overlaid with digital creations,” stated Niantic in a recent announcement.

Scanning Restrictions

All players can benefit from powered-up PokéStops, but the ability to perform scans is restricted to players who have reached level 20. This restriction is likely intended to mitigate the risk of spam submissions.