10 Ways Nintendo Were Almost COMPLETELY Different
6. Pokémon GO! Was Created As A Joke
Pokémon GO's success was unprecedented. The release of this mobile game by Niantic prompted the biggest surge in Nintendo's shares since the release of the NES. According to the Huffington Post, the company's shares went from $18 billion to $28 billion... in one week!
What makes this feat more impressive is that Pokémon GO was devised as a joke. In 2014, Google created a Pokémon publicity stunt on April Fool's Day, fooling some gamers into thinking it was an advertisement for an upcoming game. Instead of laughing at the prank, Nintendo saw potential in it. If fans were excited for this non-existent game, how exhilarated would they be when if it was turned into a reality?
Ironically, Nintendo probably took this gamble because their latest console, the Wii U, flopped and they needed a hit. If the Wii U sold well, Nintendo may have never considered making mobile games like Pokémon GO and Mario Run. The game's success also popularised other AR mobile games such as Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and the upcoming CATAN World Explorers. None of these games would exist if it wasn't for Google's little prank.