Pokémon Go players have a new haven: Sprint stores

Sprint hopes that you’ll take a break from all that monster-collecting to check out some new phones.

Pokémon Go today announced a new partnership with Sprint. The phone company has over 10,000 locations, and starting Monday, December 12, players may visit these locations to get new items, fight for control of digital gyms, and — of course — see Sprint products. Pokémon Go is one of the most successful mobile games of all time. The app has generated more than 500 million downloads and an estimated $600 million in revenues in its first 90 days after its launch in July.

This could be a big marketing win for Sprint. Pokémon Go is a location-based game, meaning that players have to walk around the real world. This deal encourages trainers to congregate at Sprint stores, exposing them to products they could potentially buy. It also marks the biggest marketing gimmick yet for Pokémon Go. Pokéstops and gyms are typically chosen based on GPS data, not so specifically as to help benefit a business.

Also, Niantic announced earlier today that more Pokémon are coming to the game, with details on the update also coming on December 12.

Sprint plans to host tournaments and sweepstakes in the future. This means that all of these stores will become either a Pokéstop (which gives items like Pokéballs and potions) or gyms. Marcelo Claure, president and chief executive officer of Sprint, noted in a press call that Sprint will make these more special than normal Pokéstops or gyms by offering charging stations and other perks, like refreshments, for players.