Pokémon Go Reinstates COVID Safety Feature After Backlash

Pokémon GO Permanently Adopts Expanded Interaction Radius

Pokémon GO recently announced the permanent continuation of an in-game modification that simplified gameplay during periods of social distancing. Initially implemented when the COVID-19 pandemic began, this feature effectively doubled the range within which players could interact with crucial augmented reality locations central to the game.

Community Response and Reinstatement

Although Niantic, the developer of Pokémon GO, had removed the feature earlier in the month, it was subsequently reinstated following substantial opposition from both the player community and content creators.

Increased Accessibility for Players

Prior to the pandemic, interacting with PokéStops or Gyms required players to be within 40 meters. The now-permanent alteration extends this radius to 80 meters. Notably, this change has enhanced accessibility for players with disabilities, particularly those with limited mobility.

As a pioneering augmented reality mobile game, Pokémon GO’s core gameplay relies on visiting real-world landmarks. Expanding the interaction range allows players who may have difficulty reaching these locations – such as wheelchair users confined to paved areas – to participate more fully.

Adapting to Lockdown Conditions

Worldwide lockdowns presented a unique challenge to Pokémon GO, a game designed to promote real-world exploration. Niantic responded by implementing adjustments like expanding the interaction radius, increasing Pokémon spawn rates, and simplifying the acquisition of PokéBalls, making the game more playable from home.

Financial Performance During the Pandemic

These modifications did not detract from the game’s core experience, which made the subsequent removal of the expanded radius perplexing to many players, especially given the ongoing Delta variant concerns. Financially, the app flourished during the pandemic.

Pokémon GO achieved its highest-earning year since its 2016 launch in 2020, generating over $1 billion in revenue. According to Sensor Tower, this positive trend continued into the first half of 2021, with earnings reaching $642 million.

This represented a 34% increase in consumer spending compared to the $479 million earned during the first half of 2020.

Player Advocacy and Organized Protest

Following Niantic’s reduction of the interaction radius, Pokémon GO content creators and community members collaborated on an open letter to Niantic. This action led to the hashtag #HearUsNiantic trending on Twitter.

The letter articulated that the increased radius improved game safety, accessibility, and reduced intrusiveness.

Players also organized a boycott of the game on August 5th, dubbed “Pokémon No Day.” Niantic responded with a letter addressed to the Pokémon GO community on the same day.

Niantic’s Response and Future Considerations

“Encouraging people to explore, exercise and safely play together in person remains Niantic’s mission. The health and wellbeing of players is our top priority,” stated Niantic. The company established an “inter cross-functional team” to address these concerns and invited key content creators to provide community feedback.

While expanding the interaction radius is the initial outcome of this task force, Pokémon GO announced via Twitter that further findings will be shared on September 1.

Niantic’s Silence and Data Analysis

TechCrunch inquired as to why Niantic initially reversed these gameplay updates despite positive community feedback, increased revenue, and the continuing pandemic, but Niantic declined to provide a comment.

Despite visible player dissatisfaction on social media, Sensor Tower reported to TechCrunch that no significant changes in consumer spending or active user numbers were observed around the time of the in-game protest. However, a notable increase in negative App Store reviews was recorded.

Lingering Frustration

Although the wider interaction radius has been reinstated, some players express continued frustration, as community leaders had previously submitted this feedback in June following Niantic’s announcement of the planned rollback.

“Why did it have to take this giant community movement for any of our feedback to be heard?” questioned creator ZoëTwoDots in a YouTube video.