Pokemon GO begins its collaboration with popular clothing brands The North Face and Gucci today in what could end up being one of the stranger crossovers of 2021. The two fashion brands themselves recently announced a partnership to create a line of 1970s-inspired apparel, a departure from The North Face's specialization in outdoor and winter clothing and Gucci's luxury handbags and accessories. About a week ago a third partner was announced in the limited-time partnership that raised eyebrows around the world, as somehow the popular mobile game was involved.

Pokemon GO, developed by Niantic, is a globally popular mobile game based on the even more globally popular Pokemon franchise. Players customize their Trainer and travel the real world to catch Pokemon, fight in gyms, and collect items. Although the pandemic forced the studio to change some mechanics and loot drops, and is still a huge threat to the game. Despite these challenges, the mobile game's popularity continued to soar, and its profits surpassed $1 billion last year. Part of the game's longevity are the constant events and programs, and now Niantic has revealed the details of the latest, luxurious limited-time program.

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Via Pokemon GO's official website, players in certain cities across the globe will have a chance to collect The North Face x Gucci clothing items for their in-game character. These items can only be found at "Gucci Pins", which are described as "pop-up shops in select parks and stores". The items include a collection of player shirts, hats, and backpacks, all modeled after real life The North Face x Gucci apparel. Cities where players can collect their digital drip include fashion capitals like Milan, Paris, and New York City, along with more obscure American cities like King of Prussia and Paramus.

Pokemon GO Trainers North Face Gucci

This is not the first time the mobile juggernaut has collaborated with real-life fashion brands, following its partnership with UNIQLO. It's currently not known how long these clothing items will be available or if Gucci Pins will be made available in more cities in the future. The article on the game's website does instruct players on how to purchase matching real life clothing, of course.

While the announcement of The North Face x Gucci x Pokemon GO definitely raised some eyebrows at first, the novelty of the collaboration and free cost (provided the player lives in one of the 100+ cities) might entice some players to open the app and trek over to a Gucci Pin - at least to say they did more than anything. However, with a growing number of die-hard Trainers beginning to criticize the often-underwhelming rewards for events, virtual Gucci gear likely won't convince too many to return to Pokemon GO.

Next: Pokemon GO NEEDS Better Event Incentives

Source: Pokemon Go Live