Google launches augmented reality game Ingress on iOS

After becoming available to all Android users back in December, Google this evening finally launched its popular Ingress game on iOS. The game originally launched in a closed beta all the way back in 2012, but has slowly been expanding to gradually larger audiences ever since.

For those unfamiliar, Ingress is an augmented reality game that allows players to join either the Resistance or Enlightened teams to battle to locate and collect “Exotic Matter.” The Exotic Matter is located in real-life locations, meaning that players have to travel to places in real life to find it. The “portals” are established at public places and then linked to create virtual triangular fields over specific areas.

Ingress has a complex science fiction backstory that is ever-expanding and changing, depending on the success of each side.

Ingress transforms the real world into the landscape for a global game of mystery, intrigue, and competition. A mysterious energy has been unearthed by a team of scientists in Europe. Move through the real world using your iOS device and the Ingress app to discover and tap sources of this mysterious energy. Acquire objects to aid in your quest, deploy tech to capture territory, and ally with other players to advance the cause of the Enlightened or the Resistance. Track the progress of players around the world and communicate with others using an Intelligence map.

Ingress is available for free on the App Store now and is designed for both the iPad and iPhone.