A player catches Metapod on Pokémon GO in the public (Photo : YouTube / UnlistedLeaf)
Nintendo and Niantic's Pokémon GO augmented reality game is now starting its beta stage in the United States as the company also reveals the gym battle mechanics for everyone.
Millions of players who want to be the very best like no one ever was are still waiting for the official roll out of the Pokémon GO AR game. The Pokémon Company and Niantic has already tested the game in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Players in the U.S. who signed up for the beta version last week will have a chance to get an invite from the developers. Not everyone will be lucky enough as the companies do not want to risk leaking more game details in the Internet.
Nintendo has seen wide success in their franchise and Pokémon GO will not be an exception. It would be the Japanese video game company's first foray with the pocket monsters on Android and iOS smartphones.
Niantic is known for their Ingress AR game which involved users navigating in real life locations. Spots that had significance were treated as portals where players can defend or attack.
Pokémon GO will have the same real-world location setting for the game, TechCrunch has learned. Pokémon Eggs will be hatched if the players walk long enough.
However, catching them may not be their real test as players would also be able to battle other trainers in Pokémon Gyms which would also be set in real-world locations. Players would need to battle with their best roster.
Niantic has recently revealed that Pokémon GO players will have to battle for gym prestige, IGN reported. Trainers will have to assign their own Pokémon to a gym for others trainers to try and beat.
There is no release date yet but the wide and rigorous testing the developers are conducting suggests that the game could be nearly finished. Earlier reports have claimed that it will be around summer 2016.
Pokémon GO players in the U.S. that were invited will finally be able to help with the field testing for the game. They will also have the capability to try out the gym battle mechanics Niantic has set up.
