Pokemon Go developer Niantic has announced plans to re-release AR adventure game Ingress.
Despite plans to launch a Christmas event and the release of Harry Potter Wizards Unite, Niantic is re-launching Ingress with a brand new name.
Dubbed Ingress Prime, the re-launched science fiction game will be available to download in 2018.
“Something is very wrong, Agent… The world is not as it seems,” Niantic writes.
“A secret war is taking place in the shadows, and you have the power to mould the fate of this universe.
“But you’ll need the right people… and you’ll need a very special piece of technology: Ingress Prime.”
The re-launch of Ingress could have something to do with the big cash investment received by Niantic.
Niantic has managed to secure an additional $200 million in funding, as companies like Spark Capital, Founders Fund, Meritech, Javelin Venture Partners, You & Mr Jones and NetEase invest cash.
According to a new report in The Wall Street Journal, the funds will help Niantic make long-term investments in augmented reality.
This will not only benefit Pokemon Go, but will also boost the technology used in upcoming AR game Harry Potter Wizards Unite.
As part of the deal, Spark Capital’s Megan Quinn will join the Niantic board.
“We are very, very excited to welcome the Niantic Labs team to the Spark Capital portfolio,” Quinn tweets. “We believe John Hanke & the team are building an incredibly important company at the intersection of AR and real world location.”
In the meantime, Niantic is about to release Gen 3 Pokemon in Pokemon Go.
A smattering of Ghost-type Gen 3 Pokemon were released as part of the recent Halloween event.
However, the majority of Gen 3 Pokemon will launch in December, although there’s currently no official release date.
The Christmas event is also expected to launch later this month, complete with new bonuses.