Pokémon Go Influencers Boycott Niantic Over COVID-19 Safety Measures

Niantic's Pokémon GO: A Shift in Accessibility and Player Response

Niantic, the development studio behind Pokémon GO, initially achieved widespread success with one of the earliest mainstream augmented reality (AR) games. Last year alone, the game garnered 166 million users and exceeded one billion dollars in revenue.

Drawing inspiration from the core Pokémon video game series, Pokémon GO motivates players to explore their environments, collaborate with others in battles against formidable creatures, and discover new locations.

Accessibility Concerns Prior to the Pandemic

Prior to 2020, the game presented accessibility challenges. Certain in-game actions required physical movement, potentially excluding players with disabilities or physical limitations that hindered their ability to walk easily.

Specifically, players using wheelchairs might have encountered difficulties reaching certain PokéStops and Gyms, which are crucial for full game engagement.

Pandemic-Era Adjustments and Increased Accessibility

In March 2020, as global lockdowns began, Niantic doubled the interaction radius for PokéStops and Gyms, expanding it from 40 meters to 80 meters.

This adjustment allowed players to interact with landmarks from a greater distance, facilitating gameplay from home or while practicing social distancing.

The increased radius also improved safety for pedestrian players, reducing the need to risk crossing streets to reach landmarks. Furthermore, businesses benefiting from raid battles – events requiring in-person gatherings – saw players able to maintain distance while participating.

The introduction of remote raid participation, a feature implemented during the pandemic, proved profitable and is expected to remain a permanent fixture.

Reversal of Pandemic Bonuses and Player Backlash

Despite being initially presented as temporary measures, these pandemic-era incentives proved popular, contributing to Pokémon GO’s most profitable year in 2020.

Recently, Niantic removed the increased interaction radius as a “test” in the United States and New Zealand.

The company stated that these changes aim to refocus the game on real-world movement and exploration, introducing them gradually to enhance the experience.

New Incentives and Growing Frustration

A new incentive offers players 10x XP for visiting new PokéStops. However, with the spread of the delta variant, many players view these changes as frustrating and ill-timed.

The decision to revert accessibility features that simultaneously boosted revenue has sparked considerable criticism.

Community Response: Petitions, Boycotts, and Creator Concerns

Pokémon GO YouTuber Reversal, who has previously collaborated with Niantic, announced he would cease playing if the changes weren’t addressed.

A petition advocating for the retention of the increased interaction distance has garnered over 130,000 signatures.

Influential content creators, including ZoëTwoDots and The Trainer Club, have alluded to a potential boycott, citing Niantic’s perceived disregard for community feedback following the announcement of the bonus removal in June.

ZoëTwoDots, with over 212,000 subscribers, stated she would suspend financial support for the game until Niantic publicly addresses the concerns.

A Failure to Listen and Prioritize Accessibility

As Pokémon GO marks its five-year anniversary, the current conflict isn’t simply about players seeking an easier game.

It highlights a perceived failure by Niantic to prioritize accessibility, listen to its player base, and adapt to evolving circumstances, particularly regarding public health concerns as COVID-19 cases rise.