Nintendo's latest location-based augmented reality (AR) game, Pokémon GO, is currently available only on iOS and Android. An unofficial video demo shows what the game may look like on HoloLens, Microsoft's holographic headset.
CapitolaVR has created a concept video using the Unity engine with the HoloLens SDK. The concept is an unofficial demo but it gives a glimpse of what Pokémon GO may look like on HoloLens.
The video, which has been posted on Twitter by David Robustelli, digital head at CapitolaVR, shows the player pinching the thumb to throw a ball at various characters. The Poke Ball comes back to the player after hitting a character.
We created a full immersive @Pokemon Go version for the @HoloLens #PokemonGO #HoloLens #wannaplay #MixedReality pic.twitter.com/CrDgiF2Y6N
— David Robustelli (@RobustelliDavid) 14 July 2016
Robustelli says that the Pokémon in the video are currently generated randomly within a given environment. His team has developed only one gesture but they are working on other gestures as well.
The creators of the demo video say that they are also working to find a way of utilizing Google Maps for Pokémon GO and enable them for Microsoft HoloLens.
Robustelli believes that more people will develop programs to run with Microsoft HoloLens in the future.
It is worth noting that CapitolaVR is not related to Niantic Labs, the developer of Pokémon GO, in any way. The game studio also does not have any intention to develop a game based on the unofficial demo. The work of CapitolaVR is an experiment that shows what is possible for HoloLens in the near term.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, believes that the increasing popularity of Nintendo's Pokémon GO could prove beneficial for HoloLens.
"This Pokémon interest hopefully will translate into a lot of interest in HoloLens," says Nadella. "I think it's fantastic to see these augmented reality applications getting built, because the best thing that can happen when you're creating a new category is for applications that are these killer apps, whether it be game or in the industrial scenario, to get invested in."
Pokémon GO was released on July 6 in various parts of the world and, within just a week, it has been downloaded by more than 8 million people.
Pokémon GO is available as a free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The iOS version of the app weighs 110 MB and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch running on iOS 8 or later.
Pokémon GO for Android weighs 58 MB and will work on devices running on Android 4.4 or later.
