Sony is an innovative gaming company that typically takes risks edging into markets that Nintendo usually lords over. The PSP was ahead of its time, and even though the UMD as a medium died a slow and painful bargain-bin death, it’s an example of Sony trying new things in order to one-up the competition. What’s next to observe and improve upon? Mega-hit Pokémon Go.
Sony CEO Kaz Hirai spoke to the Financial Times about augmented reality and how mobile gaming has evolved beyond simple, 5-minute experiences.
“Pokémon Go is a real game-changer. I’m very interested in the fact that it has the potential to really change the way people move, literally.
[Augmented reality is a] great innovative idea that’s going to lift all boats for the video game industry. [Mobile gaming] is something we are aggressively getting into, [but] it’s quite a shift from being just a console-based business to being on mobile phones as well.”
The possibilities are definitely intriguing. Imagine Sony’s properties in a Pokémon Go augmented reality context. Some Uncharted treasure hunting, anyone? Maybe a direct rip off of Pokémon Go (with a better battle system) by using the Ni No Kuni brand? What about taking pictures of cars for a Gran Turismo app, or doing something my brain can’t even comprehend for a Little Big Planet AR experience?
We know Sony is moving forward with its appropriately titled mobile division, ForwardWorks, so it seems like it’s only a matter of time until the mobile revolution completely takes over.
(Via Gamasutra)