A real movement experience in the AI era! What is the value of "location-based games" that make daily movement more enjoyable?

COLOPL Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and CEO: Takashi Miyamoto; hereinafter "COLOPL") announced today, May 1, 2026, the 23rd anniversary of the birth of the world's first location-based game (hereinafter "location-based game"), developed by its founder Naruatsu Baba. Location-based games are entertainment that utilizes smartphone location information, where real-world actions such as travel distance, steps, and visited locations directly connect to the game experience, advancing the game. COLOPL believes that in the AI era, the value of location-based games linked to "real movement experiences" will once again increase. They are proceeding with the development of two new titles, also utilizing their proprietary map platform "COLOPL Gaming Maps (CGM)." ■ The increasing value of location-based games in the AI era A major feature unique to location-based games is that daily commutes, school trips, and walks become play. Beyond the fun as a game, they create opportunities for walking and motivation to go out, enhancing health awareness. They also make sightseeing more enjoyable and create opportunities to explore local areas, thus contributing to regional revitalization, possessing broad societal value. With the spread of generative AI, various digital contents can now be created in much shorter timeframes and in greater numbers than ever before. On the other hand, the value of location-based games is not confined to the screen; it lies in the fact that real-world movement and actions themselves become an experience through the smartphone. COLOPL believes that precisely because it is the AI era, the value of such real-world linked experiences will further increase. ■ COLOPL's accumulated knowledge in location-based game development and operation COLOPL's mission is "Entertainment in Real Life – Making daily life more fun and wonderful with entertainment." Since the provision of its ancestral business, "Colony Life," COLOPL has been engaged in the development and operation of location-based games for over 20 years. Location-based games are not merely established by using location information; it is a genre that requires transforming daily movement and actions into play and delivering that enjoyment as a continuous experience. In addition to "Colony Life," COLOPL has accumulated unique knowledge specific to location-based games through titles like "Dragon Quest Walk," co-developed with SQUARE ENIX. This includes not only know-how in designing play utilizing location information but also operational expertise for long-term user enjoyment, understanding user behavior, and data utilization techniques to support continuous improvement. *COLOPL's location-based games: Please refer to the special website for details. https://ichige-22nd.colopl.co.jp/ ■ "CGM," a proprietary map platform supporting new location-based game experiences Based on accumulated knowledge, COLOPL developed its unique map service "COLOPL Gaming Maps (hereinafter, CGM)" in January 2026, optimized for location-based game development. CGM possesses flexibility that easily accommodates the experience design unique to location-based games and is a technological foundation for realizing new forms of play. COLOPL is progressing with the development of two new titles based on this CGM. *CGM Details: Please refer to the announcement on COLOPL's official website. https://colopl.co.jp/news/info/2026012702.php ■ "Colony Life" 21st Anniversary Initiatives "Colony Life," the origin of location-based games and COLOPL's ancestral business, celebrates its 21st anniversary today. In gratitude to the users who have long supported us, we will implement 21st-anniversary initiatives. Responding to user requests, we have added two new titles for cumulative travel distance, the first in 10 years. We hope you continue to enjoy "Colony Life" with the goal of acquiring these new titles. ・"Moon Roundtrip Traveler": Cumulative travel distance of 770,000km or more (equivalent to a round trip to the moon) ・"Sun Diameter Traveler": Cumulative travel distance of 1,390,000km or more (equivalent to the sun's diameter) *"Colony Life" Official Website https://pc.colopl.jp/pages/wl/welcome.html COLOPL will continue to create entertainment that generates new play and value in daily life, under the mission of "Entertainment in Real Life – Making daily life more fun and wonderful with entertainment." 【COLOPL Corporation Profile】 COLOPL provides a wide variety of mobile games, not confined by genre. The world's first location-based game, "Colony Life."