Niantic, the developer of Pokémon GO, has issued a response following player boycotts of the mobile game. Players have been unhappy with recent Pokémon GO changes which saw the game revert decisions implemented to promote healthy and safe practices during the global pandemic. Pokémon GO has reintroduced longer distances between key game areas, causing frustration for many.
Pokémon GO invites players to explore their real-world surroundings to catch Pokémon using AR technology. While the game has previously encouraged players leaving their homes to explore, battle, and capture, the developer had made changes to the gameplay in light of the coronavirus pandemic. To encourage safer social distancing practices and keep people at home, Niantic reduced the PokéStop and Gym interaction distances to better adhere to health guidelines, but the reversal of this decision has upset many fans of the game, with Pokémon GO players planning a boycott on August 5.
Niantic has now responded to reactions from players, issuing a statement acknowledging their concerns and confirming an internal assessment will take place. Niantic said:
"We are assembling an internal cross-functional team to develop proposals designed to preserve our mission of inspiring people to explore the world together, while also addressing specific concerns that have been raised regarding interaction distance."
Community leaders will also be approached in the coming days to help the developer find solutions to the problem. Players looking to hear what Niantic's assessment could bring to the game in the future won't have long to wait, as the company has promised to "share the findings" of the team by September 1.
Pokémon GO's distance reversal hasn't yet been implemented worldwide, though players in the US and New Zealand should already have seen their PokéStop and Gym interaction distances increased. The game previously featured distances of 80 meters, which were reduced to 40 meters in the interest of health and safety. The 80-meter distances are now back in the game for many of its players, with the rest of the world expected to also see the update. Whether or not players outside of the US and New Zealand will soon have their distances changed is unclear, though it's possible the company will wait until the results of the internal assessment before making a decision.
One of the biggest concerns raised by the Pokémon GO changes surrounds accessibility. Those unable to leave their homes or those who may struggle to reach local PokéStops and Gyms due to disability have found it easier to get involved with the Pokémon-catching and battling fun thanks to the reduced distances, as well as other changes implemented to keep players at home. Unfortunately, the reversal to previous gameplay means that these players are now left in the dark. Hopefully Niantic's assessment team will be able to find better solutions for the entire Pokémon GO community.
Source: NianticLabs