Fans of Pokemon Go are boycotting the game once more, in response to recent tweaks to the AR phenomenon made by developers Niantic. On social media and in real life, fans are distancing themselves from the game by refusing to play, or by boycotting the in-app purchases within the game’s store. It puts a lot of pressure on Niantic to reinstate the features they controversially removed in recent weeks.
Why is there a Pokemon Go Niantic boycott?
Pokemon Go fans are boycotting the game due to a recent update from developers Niantic. In this patch, they removed several of the in-game boosts and bonuses introduced at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. There’s outrage at their removal, primarily because it now disadvantages players where restrictions haven’t lifted. It’s a stark reminder that the pandemic really isn’t over.
When the pandemic and local lockdowns first emerged in spring 2020, Niantic introduced a range of measures to ensure the game was still playable, even when we were encouraged to stay indoors. This included a large increase in the distance from which players can interact with in-game locations, like PokeStops and gyms. It also halved the distance that you need to walk to hatch eggs, thus encouraging people to play the game, but with safety in mind.
Removing these features has unsurprisingly upset swathes of Pokemon Go players. They had grown accustomed to these bonuses over the past 18 months. Therefore, the decision to inexplicably remove them is very unpopular. Fans have even launched a petition to reinstate the missing features. They argue that they helped make the game safer to play during the pandemic. Equally, it made it more accessible, and easy to use, for those with mobility issues.
It remains to be seen whether Niantic will reverse their decision. Regardless, it’s certainly a tense time to play Pokemon Go. If you’re looking for friends on the game, we’ve got you covered. We’ve also got information on the latest update to Pokemon Snap.
