Pokémon Go maker, Niantic, is working with the National Basketball Association to create a new augmented reality basketball game called NBA All-World.

The gameplay draws inspiration from the wildly popular Pokémon Go, adding exciting layers to the basketball game. NBA All-World is a free-to-play game where players will collect star NBA players, customize them using items they find at real-world locations, and battle it out with other players in one-on-one matches at their neighborhood courts and other sites.

“This is where the NBA’s gaming and lifestyle meets the real world metaverse,” said Marcus Matthews, the game’s senior producer. “We’re enveloping the world around you into a basketball universe, or what I like to call turning the real world into a basketball theme park.”

Matthews is a veteran of Sega of America’s sports publishing and the very first NFL and NBA 2K games. He joined Niantic in 2021 to facilitate the development of NBA World. The two entities have been in discussion for a similar title since Pokémon Go’s summer 2016 launch.

NBA All-World incorporates several aspects of recreational basketball, such as walking to the park, playing with friends, and more.

The game leverages a database of ‘hundreds of thousands’ of real-life courts and other basketball-playing locations. Players can also stop by sporting goods stores or convenience stores to pick a new pair of virtual shoes for a street battle or enhance their stamina for the next game.

NBA All-World’s also packs minigames, such as a three-point contest. Moreover, real-world NBA players featuring in the game will have lifelike avatars that would also incorporate the unique aspects of their behavior, providing an exceptional gameplay experience. 

NBA All-World will also introduce ‘location-based map storytelling’ to let players dig deep into the origins and experiences of the actual NBA players. The game will also host limited-time events like those in Pokémon Go.

However, the game is being developed with a vision of a casual sports video game rather than a core gaming experience. The developers aim to make it appeal to casually interested fans as well as superfans of the league. An official release date for the game has not been disclosed yet. Nevertheless, interested players can pre-register on the game’s website.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Read other Articles

Pokémon Go maker, Niantic, is working with the National Basketball Association to create a new augmented reality basketball game called NBA All-World.

The gameplay draws inspiration from the wildly popular Pokémon Go, adding exciting layers to the basketball game. NBA All-World is a free-to-play game where players will collect star NBA players, customize them using items they find at real-world locations, and battle it out with other players in one-on-one matches at their neighborhood courts and other sites.

“This is where the NBA’s gaming and lifestyle meets the real world metaverse,” said Marcus Matthews, the game’s senior producer. “We’re enveloping the world around you into a basketball universe, or what I like to call turning the real world into a basketball theme park.”

Matthews is a veteran of Sega of America’s sports publishing and the very first NFL and NBA 2K games. He joined Niantic in 2021 to facilitate the development of NBA World. The two entities have been in discussion for a similar title since Pokémon Go’s summer 2016 launch.

NBA All-World incorporates several aspects of recreational basketball, such as walking to the park, playing with friends, and more.

The game leverages a database of ‘hundreds of thousands’ of real-life courts and other basketball-playing locations. Players can also stop by sporting goods stores or convenience stores to pick a new pair of virtual shoes for a street battle or enhance their stamina for the next game.

NBA All-World’s also packs minigames, such as a three-point contest. Moreover, real-world NBA players featuring in the game will have lifelike avatars that would also incorporate the unique aspects of their behavior, providing an exceptional gameplay experience. 

NBA All-World will also introduce ‘location-based map storytelling’ to let players dig deep into the origins and experiences of the actual NBA players. The game will also host limited-time events like those in Pokémon Go.

However, the game is being developed with a vision of a casual sports video game rather than a core gaming experience. The developers aim to make it appeal to casually interested fans as well as superfans of the league. An official release date for the game has not been disclosed yet. Nevertheless, interested players can pre-register on the game’s website.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Read other Articles