A
A
A
For those who are fans of the popular game Pokémon Go, now is an important time to plan ahead. This is because developer Niantic is pushing a new update to its popular game and the new version will not be playable on the “Lollipop” edition of the Android 5.0 as well as iOS 10 or 11. This update is set to arrive in the middle of October.
In addition, the Twitter account for Pokémon Go also asserted that a few older iPhones also won’t get the new version of the game, particularly the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6, even though these phones can be upgraded to run the newer iOS 12.
Read More »
Company representatives explained that the reason for these notable omissions is because the older iPhones only have 1 GB of RAM, which would limit the game and its vast array of features. It would also hurt the overall quality of gameplay for those individuals with newer phones because they are interacting with those with older ones.
Pokémon Go had already been experiencing some issues when it was being used on these older devices. Of course, it is not the only game that is more demanding and calls on the latest mobile phone technology, but its use of GPS, the phone’s camera, and more make it a game that requires a device that can keep up. In addition, older versions can drain an older phone’s battery with its array of 3D visuals. Niantic maintains that the update should only be a factor for a small number of daily active users, however, there will likely be a sizable loss of players who simply refuse to get a new phone for the upgrade.
Essentially, if a user’s phone is less than a few years old, the update should not effect them. It is individuals who have these older models or outdated devices that will be most effected. Anyone with a phone that is not effected by this change will not need to take any action to qualify for the update to the popular game.
Pokémon Go initially burst onto the scene in the summer of 2016 and became perhaps the most buzzed about app on mobile devices around the world. The game has been incredibly important in the popularity of GPS and location based technology especially on mobile devices. The game became so well known that both U.S. Presidential candidates mentioned it in the run up to the 2016 election. Based in Japan on the popular Pokémon video games and television shows, Pokémon Go allows “trainers” to catch and train Pokémon in a 3D environment that encourages exploring the real world to unlock items in the on screen world. Since the game’s buzzworthy release, the company has been updating the game and the October update is the latest in time for the 2020 holiday season.
After the initial buzz about the game upon its release in summer 2016, it is still as popular as ever with the company stating that 2019 was actually its most lucrative year yet. The coronavirus also did not hinder the game’s popularity, as it actually saw its revenue boost a full 38 percent from the previous quarter. One reason for this was because Niantic added features so that the game could better serve those stuck indoors during the pandemic.
Niantic is focusing more on the future of its game rather than the short-term users it might lose because of the upgrade. The release so close to holiday season may also help sell a few additional cell phones for anyone obsessed with the game and faces getting left behind on outdated technology.
Niantic wants to make sure the product they release isn’t full of glitches or be hard to play on older platforms, hence this strategy. The game has had a number of these glitches in the past so getting users on the latest and greatest technology should hopefully curb problems. On the other hand, there could be even more glitches because of this upgrade if the developer is unable to keep up with the more advanced technology.
Either way, Niantic is seeking to move forward on the newer technology and hopes that its user base will eventually upgrade their devices. All in all, those with outdated cell phones will need to “capture” a new cellular device for themselves if they want to catch any Pokémon come mid- October.
