Exploration: In 2023, people who played Niantic games moved a total of 5B km
Technology: AR apps like Kinfolk help support social impact causes in new, tech forward ways
Community: 2,317 Community Led Events
At Niantic, we see social impact as a way to amplify the positive influence that our games and technology have on our communities. From the very beginning, we’ve seen the positive impact that AR technology can have on players and the world around them. At our live events, players pull us aside to tell us their heart warming stories, and we receive incredible letters every week from people all over the world. Hearing those stories, and thinking about how we can continue to make a positive impact motivates us. In other words, Niantic equals social impact.
So how do we build even more social impact into a company that organically creates positive impact? Through our people, products, and players.
Via our platform work, we’re focused on supporting developers who seek to build experiences that both delight and engage people in the real world. AR apps like Kinfolk, built and run by nonprofit developer Movers and Shakers, focuses on reclaiming physical spaces for BIPOC communities by placing digital monuments of famous people of color in places where they haven’t existed before. Web AR experiences like March Forward built by veteran developer Rose Digital, bring stories to life, raising awareness for causes like racial equity. We donated $628K in 8th Wall licenses to non-profits.
In our games, we seek to engage both players and local communities alike. Not only are we continually looking for ways to encourage positive actions that support overall health, we’re engaging players in specific campaigns. We also are looking for ways to support small businesses, encouraging players to explore local “main streets”. In Kyoto, Japan, Pikmin Bloom players explored the downtown one weekend in November, visiting small shops and supporting the local economy. On top of that, 1.7 million players engaged with donated ads within our games.
And during our global Pokémon GO Fest in August, our events contributed a total of $323 Million to local economies, with 194,000 players visiting and playing in New York City, London, and Osaka.
Internally, we are constantly looking for new ways to support Niantics, through cross functional Employee Resource Group support, donation campaigns, volunteering events with partner organizations, and employee led impact initiatives. This year, 44% of Niantics engaged in volunteering activities, contributing to 433 hours volunteered and supporting 110 organizations.
Thanks to the eight partnerships we’ve developed with non-profit and foundation partners, we’ve created pro bono opportunities for employees to support the causes we’re most passionate about. 75% of our partners are led by female identifying individuals and/or underrepresented minorities.
In 2023, we pushed boundaries and engaged in various initiatives that reflect our commitment to social change. Our work is inherently supported by Niantic’s mission - to encourage people to explore the world, together. Because our games and platform encourage people to get outside and engage in the real world, we see our social impact efforts as a way to amplify all of the good that happens when people get outside.
We’re ready for a lot more impact in 2024 and can’t wait to see you all out there!
For more information on our Social Impact work, visit our page here.
– Yennie Solheim, Director of Social Impact