Navigating Pokémon GO: Insights and Access Outside Available Countries

Recently, you may have noticed a surge of commotion surrounding a new application that is lighting up smartphones across parts of the western world. This new sensation is a gaming app called Pokémon GO. However, it’s important to note that this gaming sensation is currently only accessible in the US, Australia, and New Zealand. But don’t despair, we’ll guide you on how you can play this app even if it’s not officially available in your country yet.

Pokémon GO is an innovative blend of a GPS-based game and augmented reality (AR), and it’s free to play. For those unfamiliar with augmented reality, consider it as the best of both worlds – blending the real and virtual realms. Imagine exploring your city with a new visual layer, teeming with adorable, energetic, and sometimes elusive creatures, all waiting to be caught.

The application utilizes your smartphone’s AR hardware, such as the camera, display, and gyroscope. This allows you to have a gaming experience that’s both immersive and interactive. The app superimposes a Pokémon on your device as though it was there in your real world, providing a novel and exciting way to interact with your environment.

Developed by game developing company Niantic, in collaboration with the Pokémon Company and Nintendo, this app is engrossing millions. Users, also known as Pokémon Trainers, engage in a fictional world where they can capture, train, and battle Pokémon. According to an article on Wikipedia, after capturing a Pokémon, a player is awarded two types of in-game currencies: candies and stardust, used to evolve and strengthen your Pokémon.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing stories about Pokémon GO is the astonishing success it has achieved in a short span of time. According to Similar Web, within just 48 hours of its launch, Pokémon GO was already installed on 5.16% of all U.S. Android devices – even trumping the number of Tinder installations. Further, over 60% of those who downloaded the app are using it daily, edging closer to the daily active user count of platforms like Twitter.

Besides benefiting users, the surge in Pokémon GO’s popularity is paying dividends for its co-partner, Nintendo, as their shares significantly increased. CNBC reported that Nintendo’s stock closed up 24.52 percent immediately after launch, and the estimated daily turnover for the app was around 400 million to 500 million yen ($3.9 million to $4.9 million).

However, this frenzy has not been without its concerns. As with Virtual Reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), too, has its unhealthy side. CNBC reported incidents of armed robberies where criminals seemingly exploited the app to lure victims into specific areas. Hence, it’s important for users, especially parents and children, to exercise discretion when sharing location information via apps of this nature.

Regrettably, the release date of Pokémon GO in countries outside its initial launch area remains uncertain. However, users from around the world have found workarounds for downloading Pokémon GO using an apk (Android Application Package), bypassing the official app store. Here’s a link to the apk for eager international trainers.

The video attached to this article from GameXplain on YouTube offers a detailed guide on how to play the game. So, trainers, gear up, step out, and embark on your own Pokémon adventure!