Peridot, Niantic's Take on Nintendogs, Arrives This May

Niantic has announced that Peridot – its blend of Pokémon GO, Tamagotchi, and Nintendogs – will launch on May 9.

Pre-registration for the game is also available now, and users who sign up on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and play by May 23 will receive an exclusive party hat cosmetic. Peridot has been in development for around three and a half years and is Niantic’s latest attempt to recapture the magic of Pokémon GO’s launch period in the summer of 2016.

“Our team has been hard at work making Peridots real,” said Niantic. “They are immersive, amazing magical creatures that eat, sleep, play with toys, explore their environment, get bored, develop unique personalities, and are always in need of a loving adopter like you.”

Each Peridot also holds a combination of unique traits that change its colours and features, with Niantic promising an “infinite number” of different looks. While the aim of the game is to raise and have fun with a Peridot, players can also take on the role of Keepers to breed and discover as many types of Peridots as possible.

“When it comes to the day-to-day however, remember that it’s every Keeper’s job first and foremost to ensure their Dots are happy, healthy, and loved,” added Niantic.

“Feed your baby Dot, play with it and take it on adventures. With enough care and effort it will grow into a teenager and then an adult that can Hatch a new generation of Dots. It’s a circle of life in a way, except you can keep track of all your Dots and never have to say goodbye.”

Peridot was announced in April 2022, with Niantic seemingly using the ups and downs of Pokémon GO’s years on the market to create an improved experience from the get-go.

The company said it would do its best to provide a positive experience for rural players – who were often unable to compete in bigger events like raids – and confirmed Peridot would include microtransactions, which were also, at times, a sore spot for Pokémon GO players.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.