Google and Taito's Space Invaders AR Game Is Finally Available for Download
Are you concerned about being unprepared for a potential invasion by extraterrestrial beings in the future? Google and Taito, the company behind the original Space Invaders game from 1978, have collaborated on a new version of the game that brings the invaders into the real world using augmented reality technology on your mobile device. This exciting game is set to be released for download starting tonight.
The Evolution of Augmented Reality Games
Augmented reality has been a buzzword in technology for several years. While the true potential of AR may be fully realized with the release of Apple's Vision Pro headset in the future, there have been successful AR games in the past. Niantic's Pokémon Go, for example, has remained popular among gamers and continues to generate significant revenue for the company even seven years after its launch. Niantic has also ventured into other AR-focused games, such as one based on Jurassic World, where players hunt for virtual dinosaurs in real-world locations.
Space Invaders: World Defense
Google unveiled Space Invaders: World Defense shortly after Google I/O 2023, where they announced various advancements, including expanding access to 3D data for Google Maps through the Google Streetscape Geometry API. In this new AR game, players will experience the invasion in their actual surroundings via their mobile device's camera. The aliens will seemingly navigate behind objects, appear over rooftops, and emerge from warp holes on buildings.
Gameplay and Compatibility
Similar to Pokémon Go, players are encouraged to explore their neighborhoods, defeat Space Invaders, earn points, compete on leaderboards, and share their accomplishments on social media with AR selfies. The game is available for both Android and iOS devices and is compatible with devices running Android 11.0+ or iOS 16.0+ that support ARCore. This includes a wide range of devices, even older models like the original Pixel phone, 2nd generation iPhone SE, and iPhone 6S.
For a full list of supported devices, you can refer to Google's ARCore documentation.
