Niantic has just denied the recent reports ofPokemon GO’s revenue sinking to five-year low. When it first launched on mobile devices in 2016,Pokemon GOallowed fans to interact with their favorite collectible creatures in the real world through augmented reality and live out their dreams of being a Pokemon trainer like never before. The game would prove to be extremely popular all around the world, thoughPokemon GOhas come under a fair amount of controversy in recent months.
This recent wave of bad press began when Niantic madeseveral divisive changes toPokemon GO’s Remote Raids, such as altering the prices of remote passes and making it more difficult for players in rural areas to participate. This has caused many of these players to uninstallPokemon GOon their mobile devices and even sell their accounts on eBay, and disgruntled fans have voiced their displeasure at Niantic on social media. In another blow forPokemon GO, a recent report indicated that revenue for the game has dropped to its lowest in almost five years between March and February.
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Or not, as Niantic recently spoke with Eurogamer about thereports ofPokemon GO’s revenue sinking. A spokesperson for the developer states that these estimates are inaccurate and thatPokemon GO’s 2023 revenue is actually up from the same period last year. While Niantic admits that April’s app store revenue was down month-on-month, Niantic’s representative dismissed this as “business as usual.” “We don’t focus on month-to-month trends because they fluctuate based on major live events,” the spokesperson continued. “This year’s changes have already increased in-person Raiding, and we’re excited to introduce exciting new features over the coming months.”
In addition to these currently unspecified new features,Pokemon GOfans are currently getting ready forthis month’s Fennekin-centric Community Day, which will take place on May 21. Furthermore, Pokemon GOFest 2023 is being held in August, with multiple events planned in numerous cities all around the world. Tickets for these events are already on sale, with fans who order them early receiving a special Timed Research bonus.
Only time will tell ifPokemon GO’slatest controversies impact these events, but Niantic insists that the game’s revenue isn’t as bleak as what was previously reported. Before thedivisive Remote Raid changes were implemented, the developer reportedly didn’t expect any short-term effect on the game’s revenue due to the higher price for Remote Raid passes counteracting any drop in sales. This seems to be the case, though fans are still expressing their displeasure atPokemon GOfor altering something many had come to depend on in the days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pokemon GOis available on Android and iOS.
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