Nintendo's colorful 'Pikmin' video game will be inspiration for 'Pokémon Go' maker's next augmented reality release

Niantic Labs, the maker of "Pokémon Go," is teaming with Nintendo for a new augmented reality video game based on the spritelike "Pikmin." The game, due to be released later this year, is the first in a new mobile games partnership between the companies announced Monday. They are not strangers, as Niantic developed "Pokémon Go," released in 2016, with The Pokémon Company, which is part-owned by Nintendo. "Pikmin," a 2001 game developed by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, starred cute colorful plant-inspired creatures you could control. This game will have Pikmin appearing in the real world via AR to "encourage walking and make the activity more enjoyable," the companies said in the announcement.