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UX Research Chart the course of Niantic

Our mission at Niantic Labs is to enhance real-world experiences with cutting-edge technology. Join our user panel program to shape the future of our games with your valuable feedback and unique perspectives, and earn great rewards as a token of our appreciation. Let’s celebrate adventure, exploration, and social interaction while building a world that brings us closer through technology.

How it works
Sign up Are you ready to share your feedback? Click below to apply to join our user panel and join the conversation!
Be heard Join the Discord server of the UX research team and sign up for studies – most will be online but we may have some in-person studies in certain locations. We’ll reach out to you with more information.
Get rewarded After participating in applicable studies, get rewarded with things like gift cards and in-game items.
Example Opportunities

Join the Niantic User Panel to provide feedback on new features, game mechanics, and user experience. Impact the development of our games and shape immersive experiences. Some of the opportunities you may have as a member of our panel include:

  • Participating in usability testing sessions to provide feedback on new features and game mechanics
  • Completing surveys and questionnaires to share your thoughts on game mechanics and user interface design prototypes
  • Participating in focus groups to discuss and brainstorm new ideas for our games

As a thank you for your participation, you’ll receive rewards and incentives such as exclusive in-game items and early access to new features. Don’t miss out on this chance to shape the future of Niantic’s games - apply to join our user research panel today!

Example 1 Enhancing the Raid Mechanics in Pokémon Go

This study aims to gain insights into players’ experiences with the current raid mechanics in Pokemon Go and identify opportunities for improvement to enhance the overall user experience. This includes gathering data through a survey and user interviews to better understand players’ motivations for participating in raids, pain points with the current mechanics, and suggestions for potential improvements.

Example 2 Exploring Coordination, Collaboration, and Communication in Co-Locative Augmented Reality Experiences

The goal is to gain insights into how players coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with each other during co-locative augmented reality experiences. This will be achieved through field observations of participants engaged in co-locative AR experiences, playtesting to evaluate the effectiveness of the game mechanics, and individual interviews with participants to gather more detailed feedback on their experiences.

Example 3 Improving the User Experience of Monster Hunter Now: Understanding Player Motivations and Pain Points

The objective of this study is to improve the user experience of Monster Hunter Now by identifying player motivations and pain points through user surveys, interviews, and playtesting, and use this information to make improvements to the game’s mechanics and features. The study seeks to enhance player retention, engagement, and overall satisfaction with the game.

Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect after signing up?

Congratulations, you’re now part of our research community! We’ll invite you to our super secret Discord server, where you can connect with other members of our community. When we have a study coming up, we’ll send you an email to see if you’re available to participate. If not, don’t worry, we’ll keep you in mind for future opportunities.

Do I need to play Niantic games to sign up?

Not at all! We want to hear from people with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences, so please sign up even if you don’t play our games.

Can I share my study experience with friends or online?

As much as we’d love for you to share the excitement, we ask that you keep the details of the study confidential to maintain its integrity.

What if I have questions about a study?

We’ll provide you with all the necessary information in the initial email, including the date, time, and directions on how to connect with us. If you have any questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at uxresearch@nianticlabs.com.

What if I can't make it to a study I signed up for?

We totally get it if you can’t make it to a study. Just let us know by emailing uxresearch@nianticlabs.com, and we’ll try to reschedule you for another time.

How can I opt-out of future studies?

We’ll be sad to see you go, but we understand if you need to opt-out. Simply send us an email at uxresearch@nianticlabs.com, and we’ll take you off our participant list.

Are the studies conducted online or offline?

Most of our studies are conducted online, but we may have some in-person studies in certain locations. We’ll let you know whether the study is online or offline in our email invitations.

Could participating in studies lead to a job at Niantic?

Participating in our studies is completely voluntary and not a job. We don’t use your participation in studies for recruiting or considering you for future job opportunities at Niantic.

Come build with us

The real-world metaverse requires as many perspectives as possible. Let’s build it together.