Moscow develops its own version of Pokémon Go, but now you're hunting icons of Russian history

The Moscow Mayor's Office is developing a mobile game called “Explore Moscow—Photos,” modeled on the mega-popular augmented-reality game Pokémon Go. 

Like with Pokémon Go, players will be challenged to navigate the streets and monuments of Moscow, but their mobile phone screens will be populated not by bizarre little cartoon monsters, but by 3D icons from Russian history. Some of the game's discoveries include the rock musician Viktor Tsoi, the first man in outer space Yuri Gagarin, the poet Alexander Pushkin, the writer and scientist Mikhail Lomonosov, and other famous figures. 

Players will have to move through the city, guided by a digital compass. Once within 50 meters (about 160 feet) of one of the historical figures, players will be able to see the person on their phones, and take a selfie.

Moscow officials say they are trying to encourage Russians to take an interest in their heritage and give Muscovites a reason to get outside more and walk around. The game reportedly includes descriptions of more than 1,300 historical homes, 114 monuments, and 40 museums, as well as information about 196 different historical figures.

The app “Discover Moscow—Photos” is already available on iOS and Android, but its current version only operates as a camera. An update that will add augmented reality and the 196 historical figures is expected by the end of August.