Pokemon GOhas been on the receiving end of fan backlash before, and the game’s latest “bug fix” has fans once again expressing their disapproval. Niantic recently removed some new PokeStops and Gyms, claiming that they appeared on thePokemon GOmap as the result of a bug. Players had access to these Pokestops and Gyms for over a week, leading to some backlash upon their removal.
PokeStops and Gyms are essential features inPokemon GO, allowing players to earn items and currency that are needed to progress in-game. Players can also place Lure Modules at PokeStops, temporarily increasing wild Pokemon encounters, andspend Raid Passes at Gyms, allowing them to battle rare Pokemon with the potential to capture them. Both are cornerstones ofPokemon GO’sgameplay, forming the backbone of player interaction.
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While these locations existed, players were able to interact with them as they would any other PokeStop or Gym. Many enjoyed access to the new PokeStops, while othersengaged in Raid Battlesusing the Gyms that appeared in their areas. Players who invested heavily in these new Gyms also earned Gold Badges, which grant improved rewards. According to Niantic, however, these locations were created in error, and were thus removed “to preserve the integrity of the gameboard.”
This news is especiallydisappointing forPokemon GOplayersin rural locations, who have less access to PokeStops and Gyms compared to others in urban areas. Some fans, who spent money on Raid Passes to use at these Gyms, are calling for refunds now that their progress has been hampered. Niantic claimed that they would “preserve many of these locations,” seemingly referring to some bugged Gyms that were demoted into simple PokeStops, offering little comfort to players.
Despite fan protest, it’s unlikely these changes will be reverted, as the new Gyms and PokeStops apparently violatedPokemon GO’sinclusion rules for in-game locations.Pokemon GOhas been notoriously rife with bugssince its launch since 2016, and this latest technical error is nothing new to longstanding players. Still, fans are understandably frustrated, and it’s unknown at this time if Niantic will offer any recompense for their lost progress.
Despite this,Pokemon GOfans have enjoyed a multitude of fun updates from Niantic, such as an upcominglaunch event forBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl. Hopefully, bugs like this can be avoided in the future, and players will be able to enjoy these updates without fear of losing their hard-earned experience.
Pokemon GOis available now on iOS and Android.
