In summer 2016, almost everyone played Pokémon GO, but will it be the same this summer with Wizards Unite? Will the new game from Niantic be just as big?
This is how it was in summer 2016: When Pokémon GO was released, almost everyone wanted to try the game. It was something completely new in the gaming market, and the Pokémon brand was already well-known worldwide.
This is how it looks in 2019: Although Pokémon GO no longer has as many players as it did in summer 2016, the game is still quite popular worldwide.
Now that Wizards Unite is coming out in summer, this hype could repeat itself. However, there are also several reasons why Niantic’s latest game may not be as big.
What speaks for the hype around Wizards Unite
The fan base is huge: The Harry Potter saga is one of the most successful books and films in the world. Of course, there are also many fans who will surely want to try a game about Harry and his friends.
Harry Potter is a similarly big brand as Pokémon. Just the name alone will attract thousands of players to the streets.
Niantic is a strong developer: After the developers Niantic made their Pokémon game so big in 2016, they could also do so in 2019 with Wizards Unite. They know how to do it and can learn from mistakes that certainly drove some players away in 2016. There will certainly be larger and more stable servers.
The target audience is larger: Wizards Unite will appeal not only to Harry Potter fans. Some fans of Pokémon GO might also be interested. After all, the games are similar.
Moreover, we already know a lot about the complexity of the game. For example, some MMORPG factors are built into the game via a skill tree. This might also appeal to gamers who typically play RPGs on PC.
The appeal is great: In 2016, we saw people of all ages on the streets. The allure of a completely new gaming experience is simply great. This could also be the case with Wizards Unite. Everyone just wants to try it out. Even if one deletes it from their phone after just 2 days, they at least want to take a peek.
What speaks against the hype of Wizards Unite
Harry Potter is a book and film: Pokémon GO was so successful because everyone had heard of previous games in the Pokémon saga. People grew up with the first editions on the Gameboy or at least heard of the games.
Harry Potter is known much more for movies and books. While there are already games based on Harry Potter, they have never been extremely successful. Harry Potter is more for film or book fans and not necessarily for gamers.
AR games are now known: Pokémon GO captured a gap in the gaming market back then. You had to go outside to play, and this was something new for everyone.
Now, this game principle is known. It doesn’t matter if it’s Pokémon or Harry Potter, people are now familiar with AR games and know how to assess whether they are enthusiastic about it.
The game could be too complex: The MMORPG factors could be interesting on one hand, but on the other hand simply too complex.
A game like this is fun to play on the PC, but not necessarily on a short bus ride to work. Many younger players might have trouble understanding it, and older players could be put off by it. In Pokémon GO, one understands what is happening in the game even without much knowledge.
The Asian market: In Germany, Harry Potter is a big name, but in Asia, the saga is not nearly as well-known. This is also shown by Google trends, which reveal that there are hardly any searches for Harry Potter in Asia.
With Pokémon, it was the exact opposite. Since the Asian market is also more receptive to mobile gaming, Pokémon GO had good chances just for that reason. The same may not apply to Harry Potter.
Conclusion – Will it match the hype of 2016?
Wizards Unite has the potential to excite thousands of players in its early days. However, it remains to be seen whether it will actually attract as many players outside as Pokémon GO did back then. After all, the principle of an AR game is now known.
It will be crucial whether the developers can manage to separate the story of Harry Potter from its book and package it into a game. If they succeed, then Wizards Unite could become as big as Pokémon GO in the summer of 2016.
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