Japanese gamers will soon be able to play Pokémon GO while tucking into fries and McNuggets – as, today, the super-popular game has finally gone live in Japan, where 3,000 McDonald’s outlets are now sponsored Pokémon gyms which players can battle in and take over.
This gyms are in addition to Pokéstops and gyms which the game has generated organically elsewhere in the Land of the Rising Sun, though players will be particularly encouraged to visit the McDonald’s restaurants. The fast food chain will inevitably benefit from increased footfall and sales in these outlets, though it has warned players “not to become a bother to customers who are eating.”
Pokémon GO is now available in over 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and Germany. You can enjoy it as a free download, with in-app purchases, for supported iPhones – and the new issue of AppleMagazine includes a major article about the game’s impact.