Nintendo and ‘Pokemon Go’ developer launch new game ‘Pikmin Bloom’

Niantic announced that it has launched its second Nintendo-connected project called “Pikmin Bloom.” The game, which is expected to roll out on the Apple App and Google Play over the coming days, is focused on augmenting players’ daily walks.

Using the technology behind its hit game “Pokemon Go,” Niantic is pushing players to go outside and take a stroll. By doing that, players will find Pikmin seedlings in the game. They can then pluck them out after they’ve grown them via walks. The Pikmin follow players as they would Captain Olimar. The strolls will make in-game flowers bloom on a path and the tiny creatures will collect nectar from the various fruits players pick up in the game.

The game seems less intensive than “Pokemon Go” but it does sound as if it share some of the traits of the game. The emphasis on exercise differentiates it from the other project. The idea that players can see shared trails of flowers from their routes is interesting. That sounds as though it will be part of the “Pikmin Bloom’s” communal experience in the same way that Raids and Gyms serve that purpose in “Pokemon Go.”

One of the interesting additions to “Pikmin Bloom” is that players can take pictures with the Pikmin they gather. They can review how many steps they took and add notes and photos of their lifelog. This could be further down the line, but “Pikmin Bloom” will have a monthly Community Day event that further adds to the community aspect of the project. Right now, the game is available in Australia and Singapore, but will launch in other regions soon.