So far you have been having a blast playing Pokémon Go – well so long as you have not been robbed, carjacked, or found a dead body while hunting – but, those fun days are over. Pokémon Go has begun to sell out.
The game has announced that it soon will allow businesses to become sponsor locations, via TechCrunch:
In an interview with the Financial Times, Niantic CEO John Hanke said that “sponsored locations” would provide a new revenue stream, in addition to in-app purchases of power-ups and virtual items. In other words, retailers and companies will be granted the paid opportunity to be featured prominently on the game’s virtual map, in the hope to drive customers inside their facilities.
Oh joy. Just think of how fun it will be to have a someone over your shoulder while you are reloading your supply of Poke Balls badgering your into buying a timeshare or a 5-year lease on a new car!
Because, as always, capitalism is the big winner of the game.
Let’s just hope the game is also working on eliminating locations that want no part of the app first:
We do not consider playing "Pokemon Go" to be appropriate decorum on the grounds of ANC. We ask all visitors to refrain from such activity.
— Arlington Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 12, 2016
Holocaust Museum to visitors: Please stop catching Pokemon here https://t.co/rsONgXWq6M
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 12, 2016
