Pokémon GO Release Date and Rumors: Niantic Hard at Work to Improve the Game After Receiving $30 million in Funding

Pokémon GO is expected to be a very impressive and fun game, especially after the developer, Niantic, received $30 million in funding from the Pokémon Company, Nintendo and Google.

A part of Niantic's official statement, released on Oct. 15, read:

"Back in August, we announced Niantic would spin out from Google to become an independent company. Today, we are thrilled to disclose that our mission will be backed by global giants in the game, entertainment and technology sectors. 

The Pokémon Company, Google and Nintendo are investing up to $30 million in Niantic, Inc., which includes an initial $20 million upfront and an additional $10 million in financing conditioned upon the company achieving certain milestones. We will be using this capital to continue the development of Pokémon GO, to evolve and grow Ingress and its thriving global community, and to build out our real-world gaming platform.

It was quite an honor to be on stage in Tokyo last month with legendary games and entertainment heroes Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo, Tsunekazu Ishihara of The Pokémon Company, and Junichi Masuda of GAME FREAK to tell the world about Pokémon GO. We are all incredibly excited about the opportunity to create a product true to the spirit of the original Pokémon games while extending gameplay out into the real world. Because it is a mobile game, players all around the world will be able to immerse themselves in the Pokémon universe on devices they already have in their hands."

Unlike the previous Pokémon games that have been released by Nintendo, Pokémon GO can only be played on the phone. Gamers will be able to take on the role as real life trainers and catch Pokémon as they roam around their neighborhoods.

John Hanke, the CEO of Niantic, described how the game works to PC Advisors, "For the first time, Pokémon will roam free in the real world. Pokémon GO will allow players to capture Pokémon who inhabit parks, shopping areas, sidewalks and the countryside all around the world."

Although the game will be free for download, gamers will have to purchase the Pokémon GO Plus, which is a wearable, Bluetooth device, created by Nintendo. The device enhances the users' experience by alerting them via a vibration and a light every time a Pokémon is nearby. In-app purchases are also expected to be included.

Pokémon GO is expected to be released in 2016.