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High-profile Pokémon Go players have called on developer Niantic to reconsider its decision to remove the game’s extended range of interaction, which was implemented last year when the pandemic hit.
Influencers, YouTubers, and community leaders today used their massive social media footprints to share an open letter to Niantic outlining why they think the game’s extended interaction distance should stay, several days after returning to the United States and New Zealand.
The list of reasons includes being able to play while being more socially distant and keeping the game more accessible for less able players. Other reasons listed include the ability to play further away from the general public for personal safety reasons and further away from businesses or monuments to avoid traffic jams.
In short, gamers have gotten used to playing with the game’s extended range of interaction – and really don’t want to give it up.
For his part, Niantic has said he wants Pokémon Go to return to a stage where it encourages safe in-person gatherings that trigger interaction between players, as well as greater exploration and more play at the outside.
Here is the letter in its entirety:
Dear @NianticLabs @PokemonGoApp @johnhanke @Pokemon,
The Pokémon GO community has been patiently waiting for a response over the past few days, but unfortunately many trainers have walked away. We are asking for your attention and responding because the community really needs it now.#HearUsNiantic #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/mpcJtJI9Jo– BrandonTan91 #HearUsNiantic (@ brandontan91) August 5, 2021
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In June, Niantic presented a roadmap showing how its many pandemic era bonuses would end, change, or become permanent, with new short-term ‘exploration bonuses’ for regions that would lose their pandemic bonuses first. . He also warned players that he would move New Zealand and the United States into this category first in late July, with other areas to follow “in a phased fashion, when that makes sense for each location in the world. world”.
But the change in interaction radius has become a sticking point, with a negative response only growing this week as the US and New Zealand saw the changes live in the game. for the first time (and, as some players have pointed out, COVID cases in the United States have continued to increase). Throughout this, Niantic did not address the matter further.
ZoëTwoDots, a popular Australian Pokémon Go YouTuber, is one of many high profile players to say they stopped spending money on the game until Niantic acknowledged the sentiment of fans and reconsidered the issue. . Streamer mate PkmnMasterHolly and Brandon tan, the world’s most famous Pokémon Go XP crusher, said the same thing.
Cancellation of accommodation raids this week. Do not host Dialga Raid Hour Wednesday on Twitch. I can’t stand giving Niantic more money when they ignore us. @NianticLabs if you want me to continue providing raids for the community, please let us know.
Details: https://t.co/JPyzyJIGD5– PkmnMasterHolly #HearUsNiantic (@PkmnMasterHolly) August 3, 2021
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Today, the issue is starting to gain media coverage in places like The Guardian, while the hashtag #BoycottNiantic brings together Pokémon Go players largely based in the United States on Twitter. Many players share images with slogans such as “Pokémon No”, and encourage others not to gamble or spend money today in protest.
Who else could be behind this? ?? #PokemonGo #BoycottNiantic #PokemonNoDay …… I can! pic.twitter.com/AOUketUUQ7
– Master 27 TL47 ?? #HearUsNiantic (@ Masterful_27) August 4, 2021
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But not everyone has been so critical – and indeed, there has been criticism of some fan response aimed at individual Niantic developers. “This community is getting SUPER toxic in the name of an apparent good cause,” wrote the hugely popular player. Mystical7, which has 2.11 million subscribers on YouTube. “Thanks to my community for staying cool and great vibes.”
Will these calls to action make a difference? It’s hard to remember a time when so many popular game players were so vocal about a particular issue. That said, the game’s oft-watched developer seems particularly determined to reduce the interaction radius and has continued to keep his busy summer schedule without commenting so far.
It’s likely that Niantic will want to wait and see exactly how significant any reaction to this week’s changes could be among player engagement and overall spending before deciding on his response. In the meantime, it’s also hard to imagine today’s “boycott” – a quiet Thursday between major gaming events with little money to currently spend any money on anyway – having a huge impact on Niantic’s long-term and highly lucrative results.
“As we announced in June, we are introducing new exploration bonuses for players in the United States and New Zealand and removing or modifying some of the bonuses introduced last year,” a Niantic spokesperson at Eurogamer when asked to comment. “People can check out today’s in-game view to see what specific bonuses are available to them. We will continue to monitor health and safety advice related to outdoor activities.”
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