During E3 2021, Niantic, Hasbro and Takara Tomy announced a new mobile AR game called Transformers: Heavy Metal. As you would expect, the game will focus on characters and other traits within the Transformers universe.
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Niantic has so far been silent about the exact details of the game. However, we have gathered everything we know about heavy metal in this article! Make sure to bookmark this page and revisit it often as we will regularly update it with new information as soon as we find it.
What is Transformers: Heavy Metal?
Niantic is the same company behind the hit AR game Pokémon Go. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to learn that Transformers: Heavy Metal appears to be a very similar augmented reality (AR) game.
In the game, you become a human member of the Guardian Network, working with the Autobots in their never-ending war against the Decepticons. Your task will be to uncover hidden areas of the earth in order to harvest resources that will help you fight Decepticons. Battles will be turn based and can be done alone or with friends.
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Seattle-based Very Very Spaceship is the development studio for the game, while Niantic is the publisher. This is an officially licensed game, so it is fully endorsed by Hasbro and Takara Tomy, who own the Transformers franchise.
It is still unclear whether the game will tie in with the popular film franchise.
When does the game come out?
Niantic is very vague about the release details of Transformers: Heavy Metal. That being said, we know the following so far.
At some point there will be a soft launch “soon” in “selected markets”. This soft launch – which will likely resemble a beta program – will last for an undisclosed period of time.
After that, the game will be released worldwide. The only specific launch country listed in the press materials is Japan. This makes sense because the Transformers franchise is Japanese owned. However, it would probably be a safe bet to assume that Transformers: Heavy Metal will land in most or all of the countries like Pokémon Go.
There’s no global launch date, but Niantic says it will be in 2021.
Which Transformers will appear in the game?
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Niantic showed the above concept drawing for the popular Autobot character Bumblebee. The company also explicitly referred to Optimus Prime in its press materials. Since these are the two most recognizable characters in the franchise, it’s not surprising that they will be part of the game.
The in-game screenshots from earlier in this article also show five additional characters (the fifth is very far in the background in the second screenshot). Wheeljack is also mentioned as the operator of the game’s mailing list.
However, since it’s an officially licensed title, you can expect all of the major characters to appear, including Optimus Prime’s archenemy, Decepticon leader Megatron.
How can you stay up to date with Transformers: Heavy Metal news?
Niantic has an email list to keep you updated with the latest information. You can register for it here. The emails will be from Wheeljack, the mad scientist of the Autobots. This email list will also notify you once the game lands.
There are also special social media accounts for the game. Take a look at the links below:
That’s all we know about Transformers: Heavy Metal so far. Keep this page bookmarked so you can keep up to date with the latest news!
