"Pokémon Go," the uber-popular mobile game from the summer months, has seen its popularity decline. However, the
owners of the game are hoping to change this trend.
Cup Of Joe And A Jolteon
According to the Wall
Street Journal, Niantic, the company behind the mobile game, struck a deal with Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) in which nearly 8,000 coffee chains in the United States will
double as "PokéStops" or "Poké Gyms."
Starbucks will also begin selling "Pokémon" themed beverages as part of the agreement.
Similar Partnerships
The announcement follows a similar agreement with Sprint
Corp (NYSE: S) in which the 10,500 Sprint, Boost Mobile and
Sprint at RadioShack retail locations will also become places of interest for players.
Niantic struck a similar partnership with McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) locations in Japan, but the fast food chain didn't offer any themed food
products.
What It Means For The Game, Nintendo
As noted by Business Insider, a
major flaw in the game was the lack of real-world locations designated as "PokéStops." The developer of the game is likely hoping
that the addition of tens of thousands of retail locations could re-jolt interest in the game again.
As a reminder
to investors, Nintendo Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS: NTDOY) acknowledged that the "Pokémon Go" mobile game has a limited
impact on its financial performance.
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