McDonald’s joins ‘Pokemon Go’ craze hoping to catch the wave

NEW YORK – McDonald’s will become the first major corporation to collaborate with the makers with the wildly popular “Pokemon Go.”

The company, based outside of Chicago, will partner with the developer Niantic in Japan where, to the frustration of legions of would-be players, the game has yet to launch. Details of the collaboration were not released.

Small businesses like bars and stores have bought “lures” and “incense,” objects in the game that attract creatures and, more importantly, players. But no company has officially partnered with Niantic before now.

In “Pokemon Go,” launched this month, players search for digital creatures that pop up on smartphone screens as they move through real-world locations. It has been a smash hit in countries including the U.S., Australia and elsewhere.