How Pokémon GO Is Reshaping Cities and Communities

The recent Pokémon GO City Safari in Singapore offered more than a weekend of virtual creature-catching. It provided a real-world case study on how augmented reality (AR) games can transform urban spaces and strengthen social connections.

Speaking to The Straits Times, SMU Urban Institute Director Professor Orlando Woods observed that games like Pokémon GO “make familiar places seem new and new places seem familiar.” By overlaying digital experiences onto everyday environments, AR games turn ordinary streets, parks, and landmarks into interactive urban playgrounds.

The event also highlighted broader social impacts. Players of different ages explored the city together, reinforcing cross-generational bonding. It boosted local tourism, encouraged physical activity, and even supported community initiatives—such as seniors walking for charity—demonstrating how gameplay can align with public health and social goals.

These observations echo Professor Woods’ research on gamification and urban placemaking, suggesting that AR games can reimagine how people experience and use public spaces. Beyond entertainment, such platforms may offer cities new tools to foster engagement, inclusivity, and more vibrant urban life.

Why it matters: Games like Pokémon GO are no longer just leisure activities—they are emerging as powerful instruments for community-building and innovative urban engagement.

Read the related ST news article here.