As of this writing, it's been two days since Pokemon GO developer Niantic implemented changes for the mobile game's Remote Raid Passes--a change that has caused a public outcry for tens of thousands of its players. Still, the AR development company has yet to acknowledge the impact that the changes have had on some in its community.Pokemon GO forced a huge cultural shift when it released in July 2016 and has since left its mark on the mobile games industry. Many folks, at the time, credited its success to making fans' dreams come true: catch Pokemon in real life, or at least, what felt like real life. Aside from some early concerns and complaints, the monster-catching game brought fans together and created a community built on nostalgia and unique gameplay. But it hasn't been as enjoyable for some players ever since Niantic implemented a price hike and participation limit on the game's Remote Raid Passes, a feature that Pokemon GO community ambassador Ali Vongsathian said opened the door for players who are physically incapable of going outside.Vongsathian told Game ZXC in a recent interview that Niantic has a passionate Pokemon GO community, but hasn't listened to their feedback and concerns. This has led to players feeling ignored and, as a result, some have chosen to stop putting money into the game, to boycott the game, and, if it continues, to stop playing the game altogether. But really, Vongsathian said all they want is to be heard.
A "Hurt" Pokemon GO Community
Vongsathian is the community owner "Pokemon GO San Diego," a Discord server that was started about a year and a half ago. He was tapped by Niantic to be a community ambassador, which game's program to encourage trusted organizers to run in-person events for its specific communities. Vongsathian played Pokemon GO when it was first released in 2016, but eventually stopped playing because he no longer had the time. Come 2021, he developed sciatica and his doctor said he had to start moving again—which he wasn't doing much of because he worked at an office job—otherwise, his sciatica would worsen. Being outside, Vongsathian noticed that a lot of people were on their phones and later saw that Pokemon GO was "still a thing," that people were raiding, and those who couldn't go outside, were doing remote raids. Pokemon GO San Diego, which has about 5,800 members, focuses heavily on remote raids.
As of last year, we gained so much traction that we became one of the community ambassadors for Pokemon GO . Our community hosts meet-ups and things like that. It's one of the things that we all grew to love and I'm trying to love the game, but Niantic has really, really done a lot of decisions where it really hurts the fan base. It really hurts the community. [Remote raids] really helped a lot of people more than everyone knew.
The Discord server hosts in-person meet-ups every Wednesday during "Raid Hour," which is when raids are spawning in the most. The Remote Raid Passes enabled those who aren't in the San Diego area or those who are physically unable to go outside to have a chance to participate. Raids have several tiers of difficulty: Tier 1, Tier 3, Tier 5, Mega Raids, and Elite Raids; the stronger the Raid Boss, the more players are needed. Raids are also the only way to catch certain legendary Pokemon -- like Lugia or Zapdos -- and achieve Mega Evolution in Pokemon GO. But with the price increase of Remote Raid Passes and raid participation limited to just five a day, players are forced to be more conscious of how they play. Some cannot make these events, whatsoever.
The Pokemon GO Community Wants To Be Heard
Vongsathian's viral Change.org petition, "Save Remote Raiding in Pokemon GO!" has nearly 89,000 signatures, as of this writing. Along with some players becoming strictly free to play and turning off their location on the app, as Vongsathian also told Game ZXC, others have said they're skipping out on the upcoming Rising Heroes: Mystic Hero event and the chance at an encounter with a special Lapras, which takes place from April 13 to April 17. While it's too early to tell how effective the petition and boycotts have been, #HearUsNiantic and #HearUsNiantic2 have been hashtags used on the social media platform as an attempt to get Niantic to address the ongoing controversy.
I think you should really listen to your community and listen to your community ambassadors that you put in this position to understand your community to see how it's going before making this very big decision.
They're disconnected from their own community to not really realize that, and it's sad. It's saddened me. I almost shed a tear in this interview because it's something that I spent my three years of Covid doing– building a community. It really hits home for me. It just sucks because people who can't go out there raid or people who have had kids, people who are immunocompromised, they voice their opinions to me because they feel like they don't have a voice to say anything.
Pokemon GO has faced a number of controversies over the years, but the most recent change has seemingly forced some players to contemplate quitting the game altogether. It looks like Niantic won't catch a break as it recently announced its delay of the weekend's Regieleki Elite Raid event, which has further angered the player base. It remains to be seen if Niantic acknowledges the upset fanbase and listens, which is what this particular community and many others are asking for.
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS.