The Chimei Museum in Tainan has been bustling with activity these past two days, not only due to the festive atmosphere of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, but also because of the annual Pokémon GO event."Pokémon GO Tour: Carlos"Here we are. We had the opportunity to interview Ed Wu, Global Head of Pokémon GO, and Elaine Hui, Marketing Director for Asia Pacific, to share the behind-the-scenes story of this first-ever "nighttime event" and their deep affection for Taiwanese players.
First attempt at nighttime activities, challenging complex technical connections
The most anticipated event of the day was undoubtedly the debut of "Mega Night." Wu Youxuan explained that this was the first time a night mode had been introduced into GO Tour, with the aim of creating a completely different immersive experience compared to daytime. He emphasized that adding entirely new elements to the same location and the same game required extremely complex network scheduling and technical capabilities.
Wu Yu-hsuan emotionally explained his decision to choose Tainan again, noting that Tainan is not only where his parents have lived for many years, but also a long-standing partner with the Tainan City Government and Chimei Museum since 2018. He specifically pointed out that Taiwan's robust telecommunications services and semiconductor industry are key contributors to the smooth experience of Pokémon GO, which gives Niantic even more confidence to overcome complex technical obstacles in Tainan.
Eight years later, Taiwanese trainers are known for their "human touch" and "energy."
When discussing the characteristics of Taiwanese players, Wu Youxuan observed that Taiwanese Pokémon trainers greatly enjoy "getting outdoors" and are enthusiastic about socializing. This sense of connection between neighbors and families is quite rare in the global market. He shared a heartwarming example: his 90-year-old grandmother in Kaohsiung became more willing to go out for walks and collect Pokémon because of this game. This energy that can transcend generations and enhance the activity level of the elderly is exactly what the Niantic team wants to see.
As for why the event was chosen to be held on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Wu Youxuan explained with a smile that it took into account the complexity of the global event cycle (including the requirement to be held before Pokémon Day on February 27th each year, and to align with the timing of the US event), but also hoped to encourage players to travel with their families during the Lunar New Year period. At the same time, this also gave many of Niantic's Taiwanese employees the opportunity to "return home for the Lunar New Year" and participate in on-site support.
Looking ahead to the 10th anniversary, more collaborations and rewards are coming!
As Pokémon GO enters its 10th anniversary, Wu Youxuan revealed that the team is continuously developing new features, including enhancing the interactivity of AR group photos, adding team battle elements, and raising the level cap. While more specific 10th-anniversary rewards cannot be revealed yet, he promised there will definitely be surprises, such as the collaboration with the Super Bowl in the United States. Furthermore, a collaborative project for Pokémon's 30th anniversary is also in full swing.
Finally, Wu Youxuan also extended an olive branch to various county and city governments in Taiwan, hoping to replicate Tainan's successful experience and bring large-scale events to more cities in Taiwan.
