New In-Game Experiences Offer Players and Moviegoers More Ways to Immerse Themselves in the Pokémon Universe Starting May 7
May 7, 2019
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Author: The Pokémon Company
LONDON, UK—May 7, 2019—In celebration of the upcoming release of the first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu,” in cinemas beginning May 10, The Pokémon Company International, in collaboration with Niantic, Inc., Warner Bros. Pictures, and Legendary Pictures, announced a variety of movie-inspired in-game activities and content coming soon to Pokémon GO. Players can look forward to catching a Pikachu wearing a detective hat after getting photobombed by the Pokémon, more encounters with select Pokémon featured in the film, special Raid Battles and Field Research, and more.
“POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” has generated significant buzz among fans and movie goers. The highly anticipated film will premiere in UK cinemas on May 10, 2019, and across additional markets throughout, North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific starting this month.
“We’re excited for fans around the world to immerse themselves in the latest Pokémon adventure with ‘POKÉMON Detective Pikachu,’” said J.C. Smith, senior director of consumer marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “We look forward to celebrating the first live-action film with fun new experiences in Pokémon GO.”
From May 7 through May 17, 2019, the following content will be available in Pokémon GO for a limited time:
Detective Hat Pikachu Photobomb—While using GO Snapshot, fans may get photobombed by a Pikachu wearing a detective hat and then be able to catch the Pokémon.
More Encounters with Pokémon Seen in the Movie—Pokémon such as Bulbasaur, Jigglypuff, Psyduck, Aipom, and Snubbull, among others, will appear more frequently in the game. Players may also have opportunities to catch Shiny Aipom.
Special Raid Battles and Field Research—Players will be able to participate in Raid Battles that challenge Pokémon with starring roles in the film, as well as movie-inspired Field Research.
New Avatar Items—Fans will be able to customize their in-game avatars with movie-themed items, including a detective hat with Pikachu ears and a T-shirt featuring the “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” logo.
To learn more about the movie-inspired in-game content, watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IclGJipLBBA. For additional details about Pokémon GO, visit pokemongolive.com. More information about “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” can be found at www.detectivepikachumovie.com and www.pokemon.com/uk/.
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About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.
About Niantic, Inc.
Niantic, Inc., is the world’s leading Augmented Reality and mobile real-world company, building engaging applications that merge cutting-edge technology with gaming experiences that foster exploration, discovery, and social interaction. Originally incubated within Google, Niantic spun out in 2015 with investments from Google, The Pokémon Company, and Nintendo. The company closed $245 million in Series C funding in January 2019 from IVP, aXiomatic Gaming, Battery Ventures, Causeway Media Partners, CRV and Samsung Ventures. Prior financing includes $200 million in 2017 from Spark Capital, Founders Fund, Meritech, Javelin Venture Partners, You & Mr. Jones and NetEase, Inc, and a follow-on from Alsop Louie Partners. The company’s immersive Real World Platform powers the ground-breaking AR games Pokémon GO and Ingress, which are available on the App Store and Google Play. Harry Potter: Wizard’s Unite is Niantic, Inc.’s upcoming third game, co-developed with WB Games. For more information on Niantic, visit www.nianticlabs.com.
About “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu”
The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” stars Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu and is based on the beloved Pokémon brand—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and one of the most successful media franchises of all time. Fans everywhere can now experience a Pikachu on the big screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other. The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon, each with its own unique traits and personality.
The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Detective Pikachu, they join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.
“POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” also stars Justice Smith as Tim, and Kathryn Newton as Lucy, a junior reporter following her first big story; as well as Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, and Rita Ora, with Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy.
The film was directed by Rob Letterman, from a story by Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit and Nicole Perlman, screenplay by Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit and Rob Letterman and Derek Connolly, based on the “Detective Pikachu” video game developed by Creatures Inc. It was produced by Mary Parent and Cale Boyter for Legendary Pictures, and Hidenaga Katakami and Don McGowan for The Pokémon Company. Executive producers were Joe Caracciolo, Jr., Ali Mendes, Tsunekazu Ishihara, Kenji Okubo, Toshio Miyahara, Hiro Matsuoka, and Koji Ueda.
Letterman’s creative filmmaking team includes two-time Oscar nominated director of photography John Mathieson, production designer Nigel Phelps, editors Mark Sanger and James Thomas, and costume designer Suzie Harman. The music is composed by Henry Jackman. Visual effects are by Moving Picture Company and Framestore.
Launched in 1996 to overwhelming response, the Pokémon brand is a global sensation that now encompasses a robust video gaming fandom with over 324 million units sold worldwide; a trading card game available in 11 languages with more than 25.7 billion cards purchased; an animated television series in its 22nd season that is available in more than 160 countries; and over 20 animated films; as well as books, manga comics, music, toys, merchandise, and apps, including the wildly popular Pokémon GO, which has been downloaded over 850 million times and is enjoyed across the globe by fans of all ages.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures present a Legendary Pictures Production, in association with Toho Co., Ltd, a Rob Letterman Film, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu.” It will be distributed outside of Japan and China by Warner Bros. Pictures, in Japan by Toho Company, Ltd. and by Legendary East in China. It is rated PG for “action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements.”
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