September2016
Random Car Insurance Firm Pokes Fun At Those Who Pokémon GO Behind The Wheel
"Don't catch and drive"
You should never play Pokémon GO when you're behind the wheel of a car - that much is obvious. Just like sending a text or taking a phone call, it's a distraction which dramatically increases the chances of you getting into an accident. Niantic has even gone as far as to include a warning message in the game which pops up...
News Buddy Pokémon Confirmed by Niantic for Pokémon GO
You've got a friend in Meowth
Earlier this week data miners sifted through the latest Pokémon GO update and discovered code for Buddy Pokémon. That leak was clearly spotted by Niantic, as it's now confirmed that the feature is on the way; it's "just around the corner", so could arrive any time soon. The details are as expected, ultimately -...
Rumour Buddy Pokémon Could Be on the Way to Pokémon GO
Have a companion for your travels
Pokémon Yellow Version did something a bit different when it came out by allowing players to have their Pikachu out of its Pokéball, faithfully following the player around the overworld if it was in their party. The feature then disappeared and didn't come back until Pokémon Heartgold and Soulsilver, where it was...
August2016
News Niantic Is Lifting Some Pokémon GO Account Bans
"Our main priority is to provide a fair, fun, and legitimate experience"
In the past few weeks we've seen Pokémon GO developer Niantic drop the ban hammer on some accounts due to the use of tools which make it easier to locate monsters and gain an advantage over rival players. Some of these bans are the result of players using seemingly innocent...
Random Disgruntled Young Pokémon GO Fan Makes Satirical Game About Playing in the Suburbs
"I've managed to teach myself Javascript just to make a statement"
Pokémon GO has, in most ways, been a terrific success for Niantic and The Pokémon Company. Yet despite its record breaking success it's also earned its share of critics, with some of the most dedicated players and franchise fans among those disgruntled at various aspects of the...
News Recent Data Highlights Gradual Decline in Pokémon GO Users and Engagement
It's still doing rather well, though
Pokémon GO had a staggering launch, even when its roll-out was rather slow and steady. It set new records in revenues and was even threatening the likes of Google Maps in terms of daily users, a rather extraordinary state of affairs. Those levels were never going to last, naturally, and though gradual updates...
Weirdness Pokémon GO Triggers Massive Trainer Stampedes In Taiwan
Lots of people, all trying to be the very best
While the latest data suggests that Pokémon GO has peaked in terms of popularity, it's still one of the most-played games on the planet right now - as these chaotic scenes from Taiwan attest. Various sightings in the country have triggered massive stampedes as people rush to catch rare monsters. On...
News Niantic Pushes Out a New Pokémon GO Update
Pokémon Appraisal is the big new feature
A while back, Niantic promised Pokémon GO players that trading would be the next big feature they'd be working on implementing. While this still has yet to materialise, Niantic has just pushed out a new update with a feature that seems to be a pretty sizable addition to ease the process of raising Pokémon...
News Pokémon GO Player Aims For Million XP In 24 Hours, Unwittingly Triggers Anti-Cheat Mechanism
"Games are meant to be played, and in my opinion played well"
The topic of cheating in Pokémon GO has been a hot one over the past week or so as Niantic attempts to deal with the hordes of players who are seeking a means of getting an unfair advantage in the game, but it would seem that the automatic measures put in place by the developer can be a...
News Pokémon GO Player Apparently Gets Belgium's Biggest Mobile Network Banned
UPDATE: Ban now lifted, Proximus confirms "security" issue was to blame
Update: It would seem that the ban has been lifted this morning, with Proximus confirming that a security issue was indeed to blame. Original story: Niantic has been stepping up its game when it comes to banning people in Pokémon GO. It would seem there are quite a few ways...
News Italian Bishop Likens Pokémon GO To Nazism, Claims It Turns Players Into "Walking Dead"
App has "alienated thousands and thousands of young people"
Pokémon GO may have captured the hearts and minds of millions of players all over the globe, but like so many elements of popular culture - and the Pokémon craze in general, it should be remembered - it hasn't made fans of everyone. Agence France-Presse reports that Antonio Stagliano,
News Niantic Is Dropping The Ban Hammer On Pokémon GO Players Who "Cheat"
"Your account has been terminated"
Like any game that becomes stupidly popular, Pokémon GO has seen its fair share of "cheaters" - people who use shady measures to get an unfair advantage over others. In Pokémon GO's case, this includes faking your location to rake in items and capture Pokémon, using third-party trackers to pinpoint certain...
News Pokémon GO Has Set Five Guinness World Records
And likely many more to come
Though it's popularity has declined to more normal levels now, Pokémon GO's worldwide success is undisputed. The game made a big splash when it debuted this summer, breaking records seemingly left and right, and now Guinness World Records has finally acknowledged some of these records, cementing the game's status as an...
News Work For Volkswagen? Better Delete Pokémon GO From Your Phone
The only bug you're going to catch is the Beetle
Yesterday we reported on the news that people working inside The Pentagon have been instructed not to play Pokémon GO due to security concerns, and today we've got another sad tale - German automobile maker Volkswagen has told 70,000 of its staff that they have to delete the game from their phones...
News Pokémon GO Predicted To Make More Than One Billion Dollars Worldwide In 2016
Could exceed global box-office for 2016’s highest-grossing film
While there are a great many people out there hoping that the Pokémon GO bubble is about to burst, the figures indicate that is unlikely to happen any time soon.
News Satoru Iwata Offered Pokémon GO Feedback From His Hospital Bed
Former Nintendo president worked closely on the game
It's been more than a year since Satoru Iwata sadly passed away, leaving behind an enviable legacy in the video game arena. However, his influence is still being felt in one of Nintendo's more recent successes, Pokémon GO. Iwata was the in charge when the bold choice was made to expand...
News United States Department Of Defense Bans Pokémon GO At The Pentagon
"Poses a potential a security risk", apparently
Pokémon GO's hold on mobile phone users shows little sign of weakening, so much so that workers at the Pentagon are being told they're not allowed to use the app when on the premises. The move follows concerns that the game could potentially used to spy on activities within the facility, which houses...
News PokéAdvisor is the Latest Third-Party Pokémon GO Service to Bite the Dust
Niantic continues to clear the server decks
A recent source of debate around Pokémon GO has been takedowns of third-party apps that, in the opinion of some, were offering features the main game should already have. Another has now joined the ranks, with the creator of PokéAdvisor stating that their website is having its access to GO data blocked...
Talking Point Pokémon GO's Next Major Update Should Target Gen VII Pokémon
Skipping generations for further integrations
With Pokémon GO dominating gaming news over the past several weeks, and with Pokémon Sun and Moon looming its head around the corner, it's truly an exciting time to be a Pokémon fan. Assuming you are one and can't wait until the series' next instalments in November, Pokémon GO may be that experience...
News Take-Two Interactive President Praises the Success of Pokémon GO
Doesn't expect any NX impact for the company's financial year
Take-Two Interactive has been sharing its Q1 financial results, reporting better than expected sales but also forced to admit that hyped shooter Battleborn has struggled; it arrived around the same time as Overwatch, which definitely won that battle. Take-Two Interactive president...
News Niantic Explains Decision to Stop Unofficial Apps From Accessing Pokémon GO's Servers
Shows some data to prove its point
Pokémon GO has been enduring its most sustained negative backlash to date this week, at least in online forums and social media. The latest update removed the three-step radar feature that barely functioned, and at the same time multiple popular third-party apps were taken down. One of these, Pokévision, got a...
News Pokémon GO Rolls Out in Latin America as Niantic Reclaims Legendary Pokemon
Fix for battery saving mode on iOS also due soon
Niantic has continued its recent quest to communicate more and reverse the tide of online negativity around Pokémon GO by posting its second notable message of the week; it addresses a few key areas. For one thing, the app is finally rolling out in Latin America, with special mention given for...
Random Japanese Olympic Gymnast Racked Up Massive Bill From Playing Pokémon GO in Rio
"Looked dead at the team meal" after 500,000 Yen charge
A lot of players are obsessed with Pokémon GO, playing it a lot and rattling through data while out roaming for 'mon. If you roam too far, however, it can cause problems. Japanese Olympic gymnast Kohei Uchimura, who won all-around Gold during the London 2012 Olympics, had been playing the AR...
News PokéVision Creator Writes Open Letter On Niantic Shutting Down Fan-Made Pokémon GO Tools
We made Pokevision not to "cheat"
We recently debated the rights and wrongs of shutting down Pokemon GO fan-made tools like Pokévision, and it's fair to say it has become a bit of a heated topic, with many feeling that Niantic has been a bit heavy handed. Pokévision was one of the most popular fan-made apps to help track down elusive Pokémon, and...
Rumour Articuno Has Been Caught in Pokémon GO
Niantic says it's not from them
Ever since Pokémon GO launched, many people have been wondering how the game would be handling the distribution of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. It's known that they're in the game, but there's no indication as to how to obtain them. It's expected that they'll be given out as part of a social event of some sort,...