Director Niantic: VR is potentially dangerous for society

VR glasses are potentially dangerous for society, as they encourage users to live in a virtual world, when it would be better for them to go outside. That says the director of Niantic, the developer of Ingress and Pokémon Go.

Niantic director John Hanke claims virtual reality may be “too good,” according to GamesIndustry.biz. “My problem with VR is that I’m afraid it could be too good, in the way that it’s an experience that people want to spend a lot of time in,” the gamemaker’s director said. “We’re humans and there’s a lot of research that shows we’re a lot happier when we get exercise, when we get outside — and specifically into nature. I think it’s a problem for us as a society if we don’t do that.” pass by and spend all our time in a vr universe.”

Hanke further said that there is research focusing on the health effects of games that use augmented reality and the real world as a game board, such as Niantics games Ingress and Pokémon Go. “These games can encourage people to be more active than they normally would. As a parent, my motivation for making these games was to get my kids outside. I think there’s a lot of good to do.”

The director further confirmed that it is working on a new version of Ingress, the game that came out in 2012 and has had a loyal following of players ever since.

Looking back: video report about Pokémon Go from last summer