Mobile game Pokemon GO is one of many titles forced to make changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pokemon GO requires players to walk around outside in order to catch Pokemon, hatch eggs, battle in gyms, and more. With quarantine and stay-at-home orders in place around the world, players found that their Pokemon GO options were limited and reached out to developer Niantic asking for change.
Niantic responded with a number of quality of life changes intended to promote social distancing and allow the game to be played at home. More Pokemon began spawning even when players were not walking around, the distance required to interact with PokeStops and Gyms decreased, and a number of previously in-person events such as Go Fest were made available worldwide in digital format. Most recently, a digital event called Pokemon GO Tour Johto allowed players around the world to catch a variety of Pokemon from Pokemon Gold and Silver.
However, players reacted negatively when Niantic began to revert these changes in late 2021 and early 2022. Increased PokeStop and Gym interaction distance led to an online campaign using the hashtag #HearUsNiantic, after which Niantic promised to "consult with community leaders" and provide ample notification to the community should future changes be made. Despite this, in recent weeks, Pokemon GO players have discovered an update to the function of the in-game item Incense, which was not announced at all prior to implementation. A new Twitter hashtag, #NianticDidntHear, has emerged in response to this controversial change.
In 2020, the effectiveness of the Incense item was increased so that, while active, one Pokemon would spawn every 60 to 90 seconds, even when players were not walking around. This allowed players to encounter up to 40 Pokemon in an hour while remaining at home. The change, which first noticed by the fandom during the recent Sandshrew Community Day event, now causes Pokemon to spawn only once every five minutes. Now, players will encounter only 18 Pokemon per active Incense, a decrease of over 50% when compared to the 2020 update. Some fans even demanded refunds of the paid Community Day Special Research, as they felt not enough Pokemon spawned to complete the research in time.
Currently, Pokemon GO is celebrating the release of Generation 7, with Pokemon first appearing in Alola such as Litten, Rowlet, and Popplio making their debut in the game. An upcoming event called the Festival of Colors will focus on colorful Pokemon, welcoming all four forms of the dancing bird Pokemon Oricorio. With so many events going on, fans are hoping to hear a response from Niantic soon regarding the Incense issue.
Pokemon Go is currently available for Android and iOS devices.