The game’s success has sent the stock price of Nintendo Co. soaring.
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“Pokemon Go” is a joint venture of the Pokemon Company, which is 40%-owned by Nintendo (NTDOY), and Niantic, a spinout from Alphabet (GOOGL).
Perhaps what’s even more noteworthy is the fact that the estimated additional revenue for Apple may be worth more than what Nintendo may get from Pokemon Go. Pokemon GO was set to be released yesterday (Wednesday).
Electronics and smartphone retailers are seeing a jump in sales of mobile charging equipment since Pokemon Go was released in the United States two weeks ago and are now looking for more ways to drive potential customers into stores through the wildly popular game.
Shares of Japan’s McDonald’s Holdings Co piggy-backed the Pokemon GO craze, rising 8 percent after TechCrunch reported on Tuesday the fast-food chain operator would become the game’s first sponsor. With the Japan launch yet to come, experts have indicated that the biggest impact would be seen in the native land of Pokemon, which would be reflected in App Store revenues.
Financial details have not been disclosed, but McDonald’s said that about 400 of its 2,900 restaurants in the country are designated as “gyms” where players can battle on their smartphones.
It also warned gamers to protect their privacy while using the GPS-loaded game by not registering their real names to the game.
The poster, which was released on social media, includes tips such as “Don’t walk and use your phone” and ‘Do not enter risky areas’ – relating to news reports of players walking through areas of landmines in Bosnia as well as players in America entering power plants.
For Japan’s legions of Pokemon fans, the wait has not been easy.
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“There are people who have achieved a high score overseas, so I hope it gets released in Japan soon”, 16-year-old Souta Horime said. Niantic CEO John Hanke asked users to play with care.
