Chinese copycat apps riding the wave of Pokemon fever, for now
Heavyweight domestic partner likely to be needed to get blockbuster game over country’s mapping service and regulatory hurdles
The global hit mobile game Pokemon Go may not come to China anytime soon due to mapping service and regulatory obstacles, according to analysts, who add that in the meantime, copycat apps could benefit greatly from the gaming fever created by the app’s runaway success.
However, they only expect brief enthusiasm towards the copycats, and anticipate the Pokemon Go maker could choose to partner with a powerful Chinese game giant, to overcome existing obstacles and tap into the market.
Pokemon Go is a monster-hunting game played against a backdrop of augmented reality (AR) and location-tracking technology.
It has exploded in popularity in the West since it was first launched on July 6 in Australia and New Zealand, and a day later in the United States.
The gaming fever has also spread onto the internet and social media in China, where the game’s not even available yet, and already a number of similar or copycat games have seen a surge in downloads in China’s Apple Stores.
Analysts say the copycats may ride the wave of the Pokemon fever short term, as the augmented reality is unlikely to be available in China soon.