Pokemon GO has 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 the Pokemon GO map 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 in Pokemon 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, and spend Raid Passes at Gyms, allowing them to battle rare Pokemon with the potential to capture them. Both are cornerstones of Pokemon GO's gameplay, forming the backbone of player interaction.
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 others engaged in Raid Battles using 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 especially disappointing for Pokemon GO players in 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 violated Pokemon GO's inclusion rules for in-game locations. Pokemon GO has been notoriously rife with bugs since 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 GO fans have enjoyed a multitude of fun updates from Niantic, such as an upcoming launch event for Brilliant Diamond and Shining 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 GO is available now on iOS and Android.
Source: Niantic Wayfarer