For a long time, Pokémon GO Events have been plagued with issues for its attendees, so when will Niantic finally address these problems?
Niantic has been no stranger to controversy with its flagship game Pokémon GO. Back in 2017, the original Pokémon GO festival was marred with technical issues that culminated in the game being completely unplayable to those who made the real-life trip to Grant Park in Chicago. The issues were so widespread that Niantic offered a full refund to those who purchased the in-game ticket for the event and even issued players who attended in person $100 of in-game currency. Unfortunately for Niantic and the player base, this problem appears to be far from fixed nearly six years later.
This past weekend was the Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn event in Las Vegas, and it had just as many issues as its progenitor in Chicago. With nearly 17,000 trainers in attendance, a day initially dedicated to catching Pokémon was hampered by network issues resulting in the game again being totally unplayable. Players were left unable to trade, battle, raid, or even open the app at times. Many were left frustrated as the in-game ticket that was supposed to award players more Pokémon to catch and challenges to complete instead felt like a waste of their hard-earned money. With this persistent problem rearing its head six years into the game’s life, the question becomes what can Niantic do to address the problem and ease the unrest in a dejected fan base?
Niantic Continues to Alienate Players
The first problem Niantic needs to address is its habit of shifting blame onto the community for its technical issues. In the midst of the controversy, Niantic asked only the players who purchased the in-game ticket to attend the event in Vegas. This immediately alienates attendees, as it shows clear favoritism to those who opted to give Niantic more money. In a tweet from the official Pokémon GO account, Niantic poorly addressed the issue.
Ostensibly, Niantic is blaming players for enjoying its game instead of taking responsibility for failing to properly prepare the event for those willing to attend in person. This is made all the more problematic on Niantic’s end since players who traveled to Vegas for the event were told they simply weren’t welcome unless they were willing to pay even more.
Fans Are Not at Fault for Technical Issues
One thing the continuing saga of disastrous Pokémon GO Fests demonstrates is Niantic’s inability to properly prepare for these events. While the idea of trainers from all around the world gathering in one place to catch and battle Pokémon is noble and ambitious, the technical side still isn’t stable enough to handle the task. Niantic’s faulty online infrastructure can’t handle the mass of people all gathering in one place, and thus the company should have addressed the issue well before the event went live.
A clear precedence has been set with this being the second major case of technical issues hampering the GO Fest experience. Niantic knew this problem was a possibility but chose to ignore it. Suffice it to say, fans shouldn’t be punished for enjoying or supporting a game. Unfortunately, Niantic has yet again failed to address a lingering issue, damaging the goodwill people have for the game.
Niantic Needs to Better Appreciate Its Customers
Whether it be lackluster updates, a stale PvP meta, or constant technical issues, Pokémon GO fans continue to love and support the game despite Niantic’s shortcomings. Outside the in-game issues, Niantic needs to appreciate the fan base it has cultivated. With every update met with some degree of controversy and the contentious failure of in-person events, it’s time Niantic reciprocated the loyalty fans have shown as they continue to spend their time and money supporting the game. More than anything, the company needs to show the community that it’s actually listening and addressing the issues that continue to plague the game. Needless to say, $30 worth of in-game purchases and finger-pointing aren’t the best paths to atonement.
Pokémon GO is a special game — a game that drives thousands of people from their homes and into the world. It’s a game that harbors a deep sense of community as turf wars rage over local restaurants and parks. Pokémon GO can mobilize people from all around the world to meet up for a weekend in Las Vegas to catch Pokémon and be a part of something bigger than the game itself. Pokémon GO is a community ready and willing to tackle adventure head-on. Hopefully, Niantic realizes how important this game is to so many before it tears the community apart.
