Niantic recently made some changes to the popular mobile game Pokemon GO, reversing some bonuses it added in light of the global pandemic. While Niantic isn’t removing every COVID bonus to Pokemon GO, many users are upset that the company is removing any of the bonuses at all while the pandemic is still going.
The changes coming to Pokemon GO include Hatch Distance going back to its normal, longer amount; Incense only affecting the trainer while walking; Gifts only come via the Buddy Pokemon once a day when the trainer’s almost out; and Gifts are no longer guaranteed when spinning at a PokeStop.
Some of the COVID bonuses in Pokemon GO are staying, such as the maximum Gifts carried staying at 20, and the first Pokemon catch of the day giving 3x Stardust and XP. However, the changes that are leaving are making a lot of users upset, including a well-known Pokemon content creator who goes by the name Reversal online. This user tweeted that the changes are coming so early and that he disagrees with that move, and a response to the original tweet agreed, citing the second wave of COVID projected to be coming to many people during the fall months.
Many users are baffled as to why Pokemon GO is walking back the changes now, when there’s no significant let-up in COVID cases worldwide and a vaccine has not yet been released. Many people are in a similar situation as they were to when the game first implemented these changes, so it doesn’t make sense to them why the game would change if many players’ lives haven’t.
Another concern is that these bonuses actually made the game more accessible when it changed for COVID, and Twitter user @Traylantha points out that many people like herself can’t walk easily in real life, and the changes now being removed are what made the game playable for a lot of disabled and chronically ill people. Video games are becoming more and more accessible as technology and awareness improves, but many games just aren’t at that point.
Sometimes when a community has a strong enough backlash, a company will walk back its changes, like when Twitch recently reversed its mid-roll ads decision after an outrage from much of the community. Of course, sometimes companies stand their ground and refuse to budge even when their decisions are very unpopular to their userbases, but only time will tell how Niantic reacts to its decision based on the negative reaction.
Pokemon GO is available now in select regions on Android and iOS devices.
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