TOKYO — Pokemon Go, the augmented-reality game that has taken the world by storm, is finally debuting in the land of its birth, Japan.
First released in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. on July 6, the game has since bowed in more than 30 counties, though Japan is the first in Asia.
Developed by Niantic, in partnership with the Pokemon Company and Nintendo, the game has brought down servers, with players downloading it more than 30 million times in the first two weeks since its launch, and sent Nintendo’s stock soaring, causing the company’s share price to double in little more than a week.
Worried about the possible impact of the launch, a Japanese government body called the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) has issued a nine-point advisory on social networks. They include warnings against heatstroke and getting hit by a car while playing.
Boosted by news of the game’s local release, Nintendo’s share price has risen 5.5 in Friday trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, to JPY29,500.
