It appears that, with the latest Pokémon Go update, a new bug has appeared on iOS. iPhone users have revealed that the game is automatically locking after a few seconds up to a minute, making it very complicated to play. One way to prevent the game from locking up is to continuously tap the screen, which is an issue for those who put the game in their pocket while walking.

This bug emerges after a report revealed that Pokémon GO-related accidents potentially cost US players between $2 billion and $7.3 billion at release. Between this bit of news and the latest bug, it may not be the greatest week for Niantic. Redditors also seem conflicted over the bug, offering comments criticizing both the game and the developer.

Because of this bug, it appears that many players may not be able to reap the full benefits of the current in-game bonuses. With the Pokémon GO double XP and stardust session ending on December 1 at 1:00 PM PT/4:00 PM ET, this bug may prevent players from enjoying the final days. To Niantic's credit, though, the developer is typically quick to remove bugs.

Reportedly, Niantic is aware of the bug and working on a solution, but in the meantime, another solution is to switch the lock screen controls to “never,” which places an even heavier drain on the battery. Even with this relatively bad news, Pokémon GO players still have much to look forward to in the game.

Ho-oh is still available to players through mid-December and hopefully, the locking bug will be resolved by then as Niantic is known for its quick responses. If not, then this bug shouldn’t be a big issue for a player attempting the raid if they make it past the loading screen.

While this bug isn’t an issue for Android players, it may be disheartening nevertheless to the loyal Pokémon GO community. Hopefully, the bug costs players as little time as possible, is resolved quickly, and Niantic recovers from the otherwise less-than-stellar week it has had.

Pokémon GO is currently available for Android and iOS.