Pokémon GO was always designed as a mobile game to get you up, outside, and moving. But back when the pandemic kicked off in 2020, developer Niantic had to change things up considerably to allow people to still play the game while also staying safe at home.
Now, over two years later, as in-person events are returning and people are attempting to get back to a normal way of life, Niantic has started bringing back exclusive in-person raids to its augmented reality game, starting this weekend with a new raid during Community Day. But GO's game director Michael Steranka has told Eurogamer that this is a "unique experience" for this weekend, but the company hasn't ruled out making more exclusive raids.
Steranka went on to say that Niantic "has no intention right now of removing remote raiding for regular tiers". That means one, three, and five-star raids will remain playable remotely. However, he also stated that "we haven't been shy about the fact we're looking at opportunities for players to get playing in person again" which seems to suggest that there will be more of these exclusive in-person raids in the future.
As part of the interview, Steranka also reiterated that Pokémon GO was always meant to be "about exploring the world around you", and that Niantic did everything it could to meet players where they were because of Covid restrictions. But he feels that "the pendulum swung a little bit too far to having the complete Pokémon GO experience from the comfort of your couch. And that's just not where we want to be as a product."
Hopefully, certain raid tiers, PVP battle league, and other remote functions will stay this way for those still unable to get outside as much, and at the very least, Steranka says that "we will be looking at ways to encourage players to explore, rather than continuing to diminish the experience anybody has at home", so it looks like Niantic are simply looking at expanding in-person events rather than replacing remote functions.
How do you feel about these comments? Are you happy that in-person raids are returning? Let us know!
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 9
The upcoming Deino community day will feature special in-person raids, featuring 4 star tier Zweilous.
Remote raid passes cannot be used to access these raids.
Data mining of a newer version also recently showed a new kind of raid egg internally called "epic", which might also suggest this is an in-person only raid tier?
https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/comments/vhjqbm/02410_assets/
That's just speculation, though.
Edit: It need not be speculation, because the exact egg is identified in the official website's article about the Deino Community Day.
You still have to be close enough to the raid to see it on your map, right? Or have a friend from far away invite you, right?
@Chocobo_Shepherd
Standard raids will still function that way: You need to see the gym on your in-game map, or receive an invite from a friend, and you can use a remote raid pass to join in.
Only up to 10 remote participants may join a raid, and these participants will not be eligible for a chance to receive a Rare Candy XL.
Some kinds of raids in the future will be exclusively in-person raids, where remote raid passes cannot be used.
I anticipate that EX raids may make a return, which work on an invite-only basis.
When the game launched, I was working in a museum downtown that had a gym and multiple pokestops on site, as well as several gyms within walking distance. EX Raids were definitely a highlight for me at that point, and it was nice seeing familiar faces in the local raiding groups.
Now I work from home full time, and its remote passes or nothing. I went from hard-core daily playing, to casual, to the point now where I barely open the app. Even with all the fancy new events going on. Once my nephews stopped inviting me to raids to help them out, I had little reason to log on. I used to at least try to grab my weekly remote raid pass, but now that they've replaced that option, I have very little desire to open the app at all. It took about 6 years, but I've finally hopped of the PoGo-train.
I can see myself getting back into daily play once I've had enough time away from it. But taking out remote raid options isn't helping their case.
People are going to lose their minds when they shut down this game service.
Here in Murica, I'm surely not walking around with my phone out with the nonstop crime to catch digital monsters.
.....they say with crossed fingers behind their back.
@RupeeClock Hopefully the return of EX raids!
Make a 100% effective cure for covid and pervy police and you can make this game as tiresome and user-hostile as you want. Pretending that it’s still 2019 is like releasing a new 3DS game you can’t beat without dozens of StreetPass hits.
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