Niantic Expands Its Reach in India with Pokémon GO Hindi Localization

In a significant move that aligns with the rising popularity of gaming and esports in India, Niantic, in collaboration with The Pokémon Company (TPC), has announced the launch of Pokémon GO in Hindi. This announcement coincided with Hindi Divas, celebrated on September 14th. Hindi now becomes the sixth language in Asia and the 15th globally in which Pokémon GO has been localized, marking a momentous step towards making the game more accessible and enjoyable for Indian players.

Niantic's Strategic Localization for India

India, historically not a prime focus for gaming developers, has recently gained prominence in the global esports industry due to the rise of streaming and esports. Niantic's updates now cater to India's diverse audience, offering the game in four languages, including Hindi, and introducing over a million new points of interest across the country. While initially targeting tier 1 cities, Omar Tellez, VP for Emerging Markets at Niantic, emphasized that tier 2 cities and beyond were not neglected during this process. Developing an effective India strategy took over seven years, involving the assembly of the right team and a deep understanding of Indian consumer behavior, along with ensuring suitable local server hosting.

Since its inception in 1996, Pokémon has captured the hearts of millions globally, boasting over 1,000 creatures and transcending generations and cultures. In celebration of its Indian fan community, TPC has renamed over 800 Pokémon in Hindi, making these creatures more relatable and endearing to Indian players. Users can now access the official Pokédex page to discover the new Hindi names and access information about all Pokémon in Hindi.

To further elevate the experience of the Indian Pokémon GO community, TPC and Niantic have added Hindi language support to this globally popular game. This exciting development allows players to immerse themselves fully in the Pokémon GO universe. The game's Hindi version promotes inclusivity, encourages engagement, and enables more players to embark on their Pokémon GO adventures.

In celebration of the Hindi localization, Niantic is hosting a month-long special event for Indian players, packed with exciting features such as Field Research, Timed Research, and Bonuses with special rewards. To enhance accessibility for trainers across India, Pokémon GO has also restructured the pricing for coin bundles on Google Play and Apple Stores, introducing an exclusive coin bonus for the Pokémon GO Web Store, reaffirming its commitment to the Indian market.

As an added treat for Indian fans, TPC has released a short film titled “The Journey of One Dream” in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali. The film tells a touching story of a father and son, emphasizing the importance of family bonds and the potential to turn aspirations into reality. This gesture aims to resonate with individuals of all age groups, portraying relatable scenarios where relationships are put to the test due to busy lifestyles. The film is available for viewing on the Pokémon Asia Official YouTube channel starting September 15th.

Takato Utsunomiya, Chief Operating Officer of The Pokémon Company, emphasized India's importance as a key market and expressed a long-term vision to establish Pokémon firmly in India. Utsunomiya stated, "We believe the localization into Hindi marks the starting point of a long journey to come. We aim to firmly establish ourselves in India with our long-term vision and hope to further enrich the Pokémon world hand-in-hand with the Pokémon fan community."

The focus on India will continue to grow as Pokémon endeavors to win the hearts of more Indian fans. Exciting activities and developments are on the horizon, promising an even brighter future for Pokémon enthusiasts in India. Stay tuned for more updates!