Sponsored By

Niantic has unveiled an expanded 'Wayfarer' tool that will give more people the ability to nominate and review new locations for inclusion in the company's roster of location-based games.Â

Chris Kerr, News Editor

October 11, 2019

1 Min Read

Pokemon Go developer Niantic has unveiled an expanded 'Wayfarer' tool that will give more people the ability to nominate and review new locations for inclusion in the company's roster of location-based games. 

It was previously only possible for players in Ingress, the studio's debut title, to suggest and review new locations and landmarks using the game's 'Operation Portal Recon' feature, but Niantic Wayfarer will soon bring more people into the fold. 

The system works by letting eligible users suggest new locations, such as an important historical site or iconic art installation, they believe would be of interest to the entire community. Potential 'wayspots' cannot be on private property or on school grounds, and should also be permanent fixtures -- so no seasonal pop-ups like Christmas Markets. 

Nominations will then be rated on a five star scale by other users, who'll assess everything from the accuracy of a submission's title and description to its visual uniqueness and location accuracy.  

Successful submissions will eventually be added to Niantic titles as Portals, PokeStops, and Gyms, allowing the developer to keep its game roster relevant and fresh. The system will be rolled out initially to eligible Pokemon Go players before the end of the new year, although it's unclear what players will need to do in order to become eligible.

About the Author(s)

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox

You May Also Like