Pokémon GO developer Niantic has announced a new partnership with Hasbro and TOMY Company that'll see the launch of TRANSFORMERS: Heavy Metal, a brand new AR game for mobile.
The game will follow in Pokémon GO's footsteps by using the real-world AR and real-time 3D mapping tech made possible by Niantic's 'Lightship' platform, and has players joining the Guardian Network – a group of humans who have banded together with the Autobots in a war against the Decepticons. The press release notes that the game "brings Optimus Prime and Bumblebee to life," with turn-based battles taking centre stage.
"Transformers is the perfect franchise for AR," says John Hanke, CEO of Niantic. "Battling and interacting with giant robots in the real world is an amazing experience. We want to live up to the high expectations of Transformers fans around the world and bring them a game unlike anything they’ve played before."
The game's planned to launch globally later this year along with Nintendo and Niantic's recently revealed Pikmin game. We'll leave you with TRANSFORMERS: Heavy Metal's first screenshot:
Comments 22
Poké-Gear Solid.
Looks weird, but Idk, I'm looking forward to Pikmin AR right now.
Not such a huge Transformers fan, but if it doesn't have that distinct Michael Bay boom I'm in.
You know this is going to have the longevity of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.
Looks like a game
I love transformers but even I have doubts about this
Just make a sequel to Devastation but with a bigger budget!
I love Transformers so I'll always be willing to give a look to whatever they put out. But I don't think this will do anything for me.
AR actually is a good fit for Transformers - imagine having to scan real cars on the street and then, on the phone, watching them transform and battle. It kind of fits the theme of these robots existing in the real world but hidden as everyday objects. But, actually I doubt they'll do anything quite that good - the amount of work/licensing to animate that properly would be expensive.
With Transformers,. they always seem to be making the wrong choices. The comics and the Bumblebee movie are great but the recent TV shows and games have been mixed to bad. They need to remaster the War for Cybertron games or Devastation (or make sequels in that style). I also think a TellTale style game based on the comics could really work - the characters and stories in Lost Light could definitely make a good basis for that.
Wow a mobile game. Shut up and take my money.
Hasbro really needs to treat Transformers and Power Rangers better than they do.
"You can't kill the metal
The metal will live on!"
BRING DEVASTATION TO SWITCH !!!
What the hell is AR???
@premko1
Agreed! Transformers Devastation is the only good game in the Transformers series.
So, will we be getting a wrist bracer for this like the Poke'Mon did?
I may give it a try, but I'm still playing Pokemon Go pretty regularly, and I only have room in my day for one GPS game.
@peppermillian
Thank you!
This could be really good if they implemented machine learning API’s and licences manufacturers so that you could scan real life cars and planes and they become your Autobot army.
So the Transformers would be battling in parks and not in parking lots or the street?
@JaneBear Well, they're releasing board games (by Renegade Games) for both IPs this year that look pretty good.
Why does Shadow Striker have Optimus Primal's swords? Bad Decepticon, NO! DROP THEM!
Probably will suck and be dead in a year, but as a Transformers fan I'll at least check it out.
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