Because there isn’t enough weirdness on the mobile game market, The Pokemon Company has now announced a new Pokemon Sleep app, which will launch in 2020. The game is being developed with some involvement from Pokemon GO teams at Niantic, as well as Pokemon: Magikarp Jump developer SelectButton. Pokemon Sleep will be available for iOS and Android devices.
The entire idea is that this new app will “offer a gameplay experience unlike any other,” by tracking your sleep habits and probably marketing them to advertisers. OK, that last bit is not true and it’s just my personal queasiness at these ideas showing up, but I really hate the idea of giving a major company insight into my sleep habits.
And yes, you read that title correctly, there’s a new Pokemon GO Plus+ coming as well. This new device will work very similarly to the existing Pokemon GO Plus, but offer expanded potential, to push the same button, or something. If you couldn’t tell, I’m not the biggest fan of this gimmick. Basically it’s just a companion device your smartphone that integrates with apps like Pokemon Go and the aforementioned Pokemon Sleep. Ostensibly it records your usage data and allows you to interact with these mobile devices while staying off of your phone. So if you have a reason to give gaming and advertising companies insight into your entire life, go ahead and buy this plastic button.
Is it kind of weird idea? Yes. Does it feel invasive? Yes Will people inexplicably buy in because Pokemon has been slapped on it? Yes. Am I a cynical asshole? YES. Do I still hate the trend of gamifying and monetizing every single aspect of human existence that this represents? YES.
In other news, there’s the Detective Pikachu game for the Switch. Fans should also be on the lookout for the Pokemon Sword and Shield Direct on June 5th.
