How Much Does It Cost to Create an App like Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go is a new game on the market with elements of augmented reality (AR) for iOS and Android-based mobile devices. It's a game created by Niantic Labs in the USA, in collaboration with the Japanese company Nintendo. Released on July 6, 2016, less than a month ago, it already threatens to surpass some notable apps like Twitter or Spotify in terms of daily active users. Just take a look at the chart.

SimilarWeb also indicates that Pokemon Go players use the app longer than Whatsapp, Instagram or Snapchat - an average of 43 minutes a day.

So, what's the trick? Pokemon Go uses your device's GPS to track your location and camera to virtually superimpose reality with the popular Japanese media franchise characters - Pokemon. Then the game turns on your device's camera and you see a Pokemon in front of you, just like part of the real world. Your goal is to try to capture the tiny anime creature with a 'Pokeball'.

The higher level you achieve, the more gaming possibilities you gain: your selected Pokemon can be trained in 'gyms' based in popular locations across different cities. For what? Of course to fight other Pokemon owners to become the Pokemon master.

Well, no wonder the Pokemon GO sensation has overwhelmed the entire world. However, there should be something deeper, so let's take a look.

To start with, we should figure out what's distinct about Pokemon Go mobile game. In fact, we are about to create a recipe for success using the winning 'ingredients'.

Keeping in mind the importance of these components for creating a Pokemon Go-like app, we are moving towards the main subject "How much does it cost to create an app like Pokemon Go". To get the whole picture, we should think about the stack of technology that is behind the Pokemon Go app.

Considering that we are talking about a complicated mobile game for both mobile platforms - iOS and Android, the amount of money you are going to need if you decide to create a gaming app, especially one like Pokemon Go, is going to be rather significant. The mobile game development alone can take a team up to three years, not counting the expensive tools and game servers needed to create and maintain the game.

You may have heard of various engines for mobile games creation, both 2D and 3D. If you regard Pokemon Go as a role-model and strive to create something like that, pay attention to the Unity 3D game development engine. What sets it apart from other engines for 3D games creation, is that it enables game developers to create massive multiplayer online games. Pokemon Go is known to be a Unity-powered mobile world that builds off real-life maps.

Regarding money matters. The game development process depends heavily on the game concept. Bear in mind complexity, platform choice and graphics datalization. Just for the record, the simplest Unity3D game you can imagine will cost you $50,000 at the very least. Take a look at these popular games for smartphones that have been developed using the Unity 3D engine.

The minimum cost for a Unity 3D development should include expenses for the Game Designer, Programmer, Art and Animation, Audio, Quality Assurance, and, of course, for the license purchase. So, now you can see what takes the biggest part of the budget for a game like Pokemon Go, it's the building cost.

The discussion could be finished at this point. However, I suggest we continue and see how the features we see in Pokemon Go can be added to the player's experience, and, to be honest, to the application cost.

Google Maps integration with the Unity 3D engine makes it possible to use a map from Google as texture in the game. Location awareness via GPS directs the player to one of millions of identified points of interest known as PokeStops.

The implementation of this feature will take another 40+ hours, which adds another few thousand dollars to the game cost.

Pokemon Go has hit the top of the App Store's top-grossing charts. We all know that. The game is completely free-to-play but it certainly does not neglect monetization. In fact, pretty much everything you do in the game motivates you to make a payment. You can increase the capture sessions, use Incense to make more Pokemon appear outside of the usual spots, Lucky Eggs to boost your XP and many more ways to "Be The Best Like No-one Ever Was".

If you want to add in-app purchase functionality to your app, you should budget for a further 70-100 hours of development time.

Notification functionality is one of the things Pokemon Go missed, but shouldn't have. The extreme and instant success of the game may have distracted the creator's attention and they could possibly lose the attention of the user. Integrating push notifications is the best-proven method to retain and re-engage players.

Pokemon Go can take advantage of push notification campaigns to make players chase, battle and level up. To grab the user's attention immediately, send timely alerts about nearby lures and Pokemon. Moreover, push notifications are a great way to increase loyalty by notifying about after-crash recovery or special bonuses for coming back.

There is nothing extraordinary about adding push notification functionality to any mobile app, including such a complex game as Pokemon Go -- another 40 extra hours and voila!

All in all, if you add up all the costs, you'll realize this project is incredibly expensive and time-consuming. Creating something less sophisticated, but no less exciting could be an option for a start. Anyway, you'll never know exactly why one particular app goes viral, so if you have an idea, don't hesitate to turn it into reality.

So, let's summarize everything previously mentioned and find out the least possible sum of money you'll need to create a low-end example of the Pokemon Go mobile game.

The simplest Unity-powered game will cost you at least $50,000. Expenses will include game design (however, don't expect elaborate graphics), game development and quality assurance. Any extra features, like location awareness, in-app purchases, augmented reality integration, and anything you can think of will all add to your app cost.

If you are ready, here is the plan: take $50,000 for a start, then get in touch with a reliable software development company and get ready for a period of creative and challenging development. The final result is going to be worth it!