{"id":99121,"date":"2018-03-15T11:22:22","date_gmt":"2018-03-15T11:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=99121"},"modified":"2025-07-01T23:36:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T06:36:22","slug":"google-opens-maps-api-to-game-developers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/google-opens-maps-api-to-game-developers\/","title":{"rendered":"You can expect to see many more games like Pok\u00e9mon Go"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sc-blockquote\">\r\n<blockquote>If you\u2019re a fan of Pok\u00e9mon Go, Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, or all three you\u2019re in for a treat.<\/blockquote>\r\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Google has decided to open up its Maps API to game developers<\/strong>. This means that developers will be able to build more Augmented Reality (AR) games like Pok\u00e9mon Go, which <strong>turn the real world into a virtual playground<\/strong>, much easier than they could before. The Maps API allows game developers to build their games on top of real-world environments as <strong>Google has also opened up its 3D imagery to developers, which includes over 100 million buildings, roads, landmarks, and Parks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Niantic, the company behind Pok\u00e9mon Go, has already released details about its next AR game, which will bring the Harry Potter universe to the world around us. <strong>The move from Google opens up the possibility for other developers to bring other franchises and fictional universes to life.<\/strong> On releasing the Maps API, Product Manager Clementine Jacoby said:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cGame studios can easily reimagine our world as a medieval fantasy, a bubble gum candy land, or a zombie-infested post-apocalyptic city. With Google Maps\u2019 real-time updates and rich location data, developers can find the best places for playing games, no matter where their players are.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align:center; width:100%; margin:12px 0;\">\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n  google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-8132844949421936\";\r\n  var google_ad_slot = '9677578764';\r\n  if (window.innerWidth <= 470) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 300;\r\n    google_ad_height = 50;\r\n  }\r\n  else if (window.innerWidth < 1360) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 468;\r\n    google_ad_height = 60;\r\n  }\r\n  else {\r\n    google_ad_width = 728;\r\n    google_ad_height = 90;\r\n  }\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\r\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"550\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MJPvtx1zymk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Studios are not wasting any time either. Mobile game developer, Ludia, is working on a <strong>Jurassic Park AR game<\/strong> and FourThirtyThree Inc. is developing a <strong>Ghostbusters AR game<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&lt;!-- Shortcode [program] does not exist --&gt;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:1,&quot;3&quot;:[null,0]}\"><div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"Google Maps\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_optimized,f_auto\/p\/95612986-96d5-11e6-af7c-00163ec9f5fa\/3278374776\/google-maps-logo.png\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">Google Maps<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/google-maps.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download Google Maps<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--70\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"70\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"7\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\">7<\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/google-maps.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Another cool feature of the Maps API is that it\u2019ll <strong>automatically update developers about traffic updates and other issues like road closures<\/strong>. This should help the developers <strong>keep gamers safe <\/strong>when they\u2019re following a virtual path in the real world.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align:center; width:100%; margin:12px 0;\">\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n  google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-8132844949421936\";\r\n  var google_ad_slot = '9677578764';\r\n  if (window.innerWidth <= 470) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 300;\r\n    google_ad_height = 50;\r\n  }\r\n  else if (window.innerWidth < 1360) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 468;\r\n    google_ad_height = 60;\r\n  }\r\n  else {\r\n    google_ad_width = 728;\r\n    google_ad_height = 90;\r\n  }\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\r\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>This is a really cool development. Google is making it easier than ever for developers to create imaginary worlds for us to play in. It essentially means <strong>we could be seeing all sorts of crazy and fun worlds for us to explore<\/strong>. Try to think of any imagined reality, and you could soon be seeing it in your hometown through your phone.<\/p>\n<p>Tell us which fictional universe you\u2019d love to see turned into an AR game in the comments below.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Follow me on Twitter:\u00a0<a class=\"ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PatrickDevaney_\"><span class=\"username u-dir\" dir=\"ltr\">@<b class=\"u-linkComplex-target\">PatrickDevaney_<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Image Via: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps-apis.googleblog.com\/2018\/03\/the-real-world-as-your-playground-build.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Google<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey\">\r\n<p class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__title\">Google Maps<\/p>\r\n  <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__row\">\r\n    <a title=\"How to Share Your Live Location on Google Maps\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/how-to-share-your-live-location-on-google-maps\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__article\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__image\">\r\n        <div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/live-locations-1024x614.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__text\">\r\n        <p>How to Share Your Live Location on Google Maps<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n    <a title=\"Google Maps gets public transport step-by-step instructions\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/train-and-bus-journeys-easier-than-ever-as-google-maps-gets-public-transport-step-by-step-instructions\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__article sc-related-articles-grey__article--last\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__image\">\r\n        <div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2017\/12\/public-transport-1024x576.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__text\">\r\n        <p>Google Maps gets public transport step-by-step instructions<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__row\">\r\n    <a title=\"Google Maps\u2019 New Feature Will Save you Time\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/google-maps-new-feature-will-save-you-time\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__article\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__image\">\r\n        <div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/DSC0189-568x377.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__text\">\r\n        <p>Google Maps\u2019 New Feature Will Save you Time<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n    <a title=\"Google Maps might soon start telling your friends how much battery you have left\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/google-maps-might-soon-start-telling-your-friends-how-much-battery-you-have-left\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__article sc-related-articles-grey__article--last\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__image\">\r\n        <div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/battery-192.jpg)\"><\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-related-articles-grey__text\">\r\n        <p>Google Maps might soon start telling your friends how much battery you have left<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google has decided to open up its Maps API to game developers. This means that developers will be able to build more Augmented Reality (AR) games like Pok\u00e9mon Go, which turn the real world into a virtual playground, much easier than they could before. The Maps API allows game developers to build their games on &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/google-opens-maps-api-to-game-developers\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;You can expect to see many more games like Pok\u00e9mon Go&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9073,"featured_media":99123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[],"tags":[2340],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-99121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-app-subdomain-redirectiongoogle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9073"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99121"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":328172,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99121\/revisions\/328172"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99121"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=99121"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=99121"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=99121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}