Niantic, creator of Pokemon Go acquires gaming startup Mayhem
Gaming company Niantic, which makes augmented reality (AR) mobile games such as Pokemon Go acquires Silicon Valley gaming platform Mayhem. The terms and amount spend on acquiring Mayhem are not disclosed by the company.
Augmented reality (AR) is an enhanced version of the real world created using different tools and technology like digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology.
Pokemon Go was also an AR-based game. The trend of using Augmented reality (AR) is increasing in mobile computing and business applications.
Mayhem is a San Francisco based company founded in 2017. The startup was oriented towards online games communities. The company allows gamers to “self-organize custom game formats for their communities.”
Welcoming Mayhem in the Team, Niantic’s blog post reads, “ I’m excited to announce the acquisition of Mayhem and welcome a group of talented creatives to Niantic. As part of Niantic, the Mayhem team’s expertise in designing social gaming experiences and passion for online community building will drive the creation of new ways for our growing global community of players to connect and play.”
It also added, “Through our games, many Niantic explorers have found incredible meaning in playing and interacting with other explorers. They create memories, they make friends, and they end up with some amazing stories to tell. We look forward to working together with Mayhem to amplify those moments, bring our player community closer together, and make a positive impact on the world.”
The majority of the members of Mayhem will join Niantic. Mayhem CEO, Ivan Zhou will also join the team as Niantic’s social Platform Product Team and the rest of the members will join the Platform engineering.
