Niantic has revealed more details about the upcoming Pokémon Go Fest 2020, which transitioned to an online event in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Verge reported.
Details about the tickets and the prices have also been announced. Tickets are on sale today for $14.99 available via in-app purchases. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement, a campaign that advocates for racial justice.
Challenges
The software company announced information about the Pokémon Go Fest 2020, which is happening in support of the movement. The proceeds will also be donated to black AR creators and partially to U.S.-based non-profit organizations working on rebuilding these communities, with a minimum donation price of $5 million.
While the initial in-person events have often been difficult to get tickets into, since there are no limits on the number of participants for the online festival, and since the tickets cover the entire weekend, more than a single day, this event runs from the weekend of July 25 to the next day, July 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The first day features exclusive Special Research news, with various characters and new Global Challenges Arena, where players are working together to garner rewards by the hour.
The company is keeping the second day of events a "secret" until the time it goes live. They also added that Pokémon Go players right now must expect "something very different."
RELATED STORY: How To Get Each Fossil Pokemon In Sword And Shield
Google Maps
It is a challenge for Niantic to get together people, especially that there is an on-going pandemic. In order to help these individuals experience more of the features, there will also be free printable papercraft decorations for souvenir items and memorabilia. Meanwhile, the PokemonCenter.com online store will also offer commemorative tees.
ALSO READ: 'Pokémon Sun' And 'Moon' Guide: How To Evolve Eevee Into Sylveon, Leafeon, Glaceon And More
Meanwhile, in another recent report on The Verge, Google is opening up its Maps platform so that developers may incorporate maps data into the games, the company announced on Monday. These Google Maps features will allow developers to use these data to create games that let them explore modified surroundings, similar to other games of this kind.
Niantic has its own developer toolset for creating AR games with live cameras and three-dimensional mapping data, known as the Niantic Real World Platform.
In March 2018, Google announced details of these tools, but the information was then available to a limited studio group, and only 10 games have been built. They also noted that indie studios and other developers are expressing interest in using the platform, and the company is working to scale up the infrastructure to let developers benefit from them. Google is also offering a software development kit for the famous Unity game engine.
"That could take up less processing power on your phone, potentially saving precious battery life," wrote Jay Peters of The Verge.
