Pokemon Go could feature sponsored locations

While Pokémon Go has already generated millions of dollars for developer Niantic and Nintendo, it could always do better. Niantic has revealed that it is looking at the idea of sponsored locations.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Chief Executive John Hanke said, "There is a second component to our business model at Niantic, which is this concept of sponsored locations." This seems like a fitting way of generating some extra revenue, as businesses are already investing in lures as a way of attracting players to their location.

Advertisers would be charged for every customer visiting a store, as confirmed by the Pokémon Go app.

Niantic is familiar with this concept, having previously worked with companies to turn their locations into portals in its other AR game, Ingress. It was careful when introducing these sponsorships in Ingress, so hopefully it will take the same approach this time around. Then again, Ingress didn’t have the explosive popularity that Pokémon Go has enjoyed.

Niantic will release more information about these sponsored locations in the near future.