The Place of Pokémon Go in the Pokémon Ecosystem

In the world of technology, the term of "ecosystem" may not be a strange term to those who recognize it. It is popularly used to describe a certain device company and all its devices, which interact in similar ways among themselves. Pokémon games can (recently) be said to have possessed such an ecosystem, and the mobile installment of Pokémon Go is also a part of that ecosystem, in addition to the game being an "ecosystem" of its own. It therefore seems worth it to discuss this topic with a particular emphasis on Pokémon Go in both respects, regarding its places in both.

I've already noted about Pokémon Go being its own ecosystem about a year ago for its third anniversary, and it really is true. The core of this is of course the game and the device needed to play the game. Not much more is needed than that, but one can certainly augment that with a Go Plus device of some sort, and that would indeed be a part of the ecosystem. The game can also link with Niantic services, as with Niantic Kids to let younger fans play and Wayfarer to review and help add new locations, making these part of the ecosystem as well. And then there are the necessary links to and with Nintendo's side of things for the greater Pokémon ecosystem. The major point is that they have interactions that make up the "ecosystem", just like that family of devices and the natural phenomenon they take their name from.

As for the greater Pokémon ecosystem, Pokémon Go has a lesser role in that. The biggest link it has at the moment is with the Let's Go games, being that one can transfer Pokémon to them and receive a Mystery Box in return; from there, the transferred Pokémon can move to Pokémon Home. The Let's Go games essentially become the current gateway for Pokémon Go to the rest of the Pokémon ecosystem, comprised of Pokémon Home and the new main series games of Sword and Shield. The direct link from Pokémon Go to Pokémon Home, which has been stated to be in the works, has yet to be realized, but once it has, it will make Pokémon Go an even more crucial part. So, at the moment there is not much to speak of for its role, but the minor role is still significant nonetheless.

From these, the place of Pokémon Go can be understood. As a part of its own ecosystem, Pokémon Go becomes front and center, essentially the sine qua non that makes the ecosystem come to life. As a part of the greater Pokémon ecosystem, Pokémon Go is minor at present with its only established indirect link, but stands a chance to become further important with a direct link. In the former case, the place of Pokémon Go is the "anchor" for things that are purely related to it and is key to them. In the latter case, its place is as a "support" for the Let's Go games in a direct way and the main series games in an indirect way; in general, Pokémon Go is not isolated as with other spinoff games that may have little to do with the main series systems, and can serve its links well.

In a technological sense, an ecosystem necessitates interrelationships between its parts, similar to the devices I've hinted about. Pokémon Go very much seems to have that, both being the central point of its ecosystem and being a helpful branch for the most major of Pokémon games as well as Pokémon Home as the service that is intended to tie them up and make them work well together. I'll never (again) own one of those connected devices I've hinted about, but I'll be perfectly fine owning the connected parts of a Pokémon ecosystem and making them work for my needs.

One year ago: Cosplay: GACOS LEVELUP

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/22/2018

Three years ago: Riot of Pokémon Color