Ingress (video game)

Ingress
Developer(s)Niantic
Publisher(s)Niantic
Platform(s)Android, iOS
Release
December 14, 2013
  • Ingress
  • Android
  • December 14, 2013[1]
  • iOS
  • July 14, 2014[2]
  • Ingress Prime
    • WW: November 5, 2018[3]

Ingress (or Ingress Prime) is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game developed and published by Niantic for Android and iOS devices. The game was first released on December 14, 2013, for Android devices and then for iOS devices on July 14, 2014.[4] The game is free-to-play, uses a freemium business model, and supports in-app purchases for additional in-game items. The mobile app has been downloaded more than 20 million times worldwide as of November 2018.[3]

Ingress uses the mobile device GPS to locate and interact with "portals" that are in proximity to the player's real-world location. The portals are physical points of interest where "human creativity and ingenuity is expressed," often manifesting as public art such as statues and monuments, unique architecture, outdoor murals, historic buildings, local community hubs and other displays of human achievement.[5] The game uses the portals as elements of a science fiction backstory along with a continuous open narrative provided through various forms of media.[6][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 13magnus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "iTunes official App shop". iTunes. July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Prime was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Russell, Jon (July 14, 2014). "Google's Ingress augmented reality game quietly launches for iOS devices". TNW News. The Next Web. Retrieved August 13, 2015. Google is inviting iPhone and iPad owners into its augmented reality game Ingress after it finally launched an iOS app.
  5. ^ "Interacting with Portals". Ingress Help Center. Niantic. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "What is this 'Niantic Project'?". NianticLabs@Google. November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Investigate". Ingress Prime. Niantic. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.