Niantic Cracking Down on Popular Pokemon Go GPS Trick

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In essence, the game Pokémon Go overlays virtual reality onto the real world, encouraging players to step outside and be active. This aspect is a significant appeal for many gamers. However, it’s also a point of contention, especially when weather or location makes long walks challenging. Over time, players have discovered various methods to obtain Pokémon and items without walking vast distances. Some of these strategies conflict with Niantic’s Terms of Service. Now, the game developer plans to curb another popular trick used in Pokémon Go.

It’s crucial to understand if your actions in Pokémon Go might breach the Terms of Service (TOS), as such violations can lead to either a temporary or permanent ban from the game. Many players are aware of the potential penalties associated with cheating techniques like spoofing. However, the practice known as “Micro GPS Drift” has often been unclear. Now, Niantic is signaling their intention to take action against this type of player behavior, so be aware that continuing it could result in a ban from Pokémon Go.

If your character in Pokemon Go often ends up in the wrong place when you start the game, it might seem rather unsettling. It’s quite common for the GPS in Pokemon Go to be a bit off due to factors such as tall buildings, weather conditions, and network issues, which can make it difficult for the game to accurately locate your position. However, intentional GPS drift is a tactic some players use to simplify certain aspects of the game.

What is GPS Micro Drift?

It’s common knowledge among gamers that the GPS in Pokémon Go isn’t always spot-on. Occasionally, updates cause the GPS drift to become more noticeable. This seems to be happening with the latest Pokémon Go update as well. As a result, players are finding creative ways to take advantage of this increased GPS drift.

The primary motivation behind utilizing the Micro GPS Drift exploit lies in the distinction between Remote Raid Passes and Daily/Premium Raid Passes. Remote Raid Passes are seldom obtained unless purchased with PokeCoins, while you receive one free Raid Pass daily. Consequently, taking part in Raids physically is clearly more advantageous. This temptation leads players to intentionally manipulate their GPS to make their character appear closer to a gym than they actually are. This allows them to use a standard Raid Pass instead of a Remote Raid Pass for participation, thereby saving PokeCoins.

Video game enthusiasts sometimes intentionally manipulate their GPS by rapidly turning it on and off, or by frequently switching between the game and other apps. This trick can confuse the system, causing the GPS to show an incorrect location. However, Niantic advises players against using this tactic as a means of approaching gyms within the game.

Just got this message on discord today.
byu/Future-Mongoose inTheSilphRoad

In my enthusiasm for Pokémon Go, I wanted to share some important insights I’ve learned recently. A message on Discord from a Niantic Community Manager has clarified that Micro GPS Drift is against the game’s Terms of Service (TOS). Essentially, this means manipulating your avatar’s location to move closer to a Raid could lead to detection by Niantic’s anti-cheat teams and potential banning from Pokémon Go. So, let’s play fair and enjoy the game as it was intended!

The game has intermittently been affected by this bug, but the latest update significantly enhances the ability to reach gyms from greater distances. Consequently, more players have resorted to using this exploit, potentially catching the developer’s eye. Since Remote Raid Passes are a revenue stream for Pokemon Go, it is logical that they would take steps to address it.

Can Non-Intentional GPS Drift Get You Banned from Pokemon Go?

In simpler terms, many players are worried that Niantic’s focus on Micro GPS Drift might result in incorrect bans. We’ve all experienced our characters moving unintentionally at times, and there’s a concern that Niantic’s anti-cheat system could mistake these random movements for cheating. This could happen if the GPS signal is weak or if you momentarily leave the app to read a text or listen to a podcast.

In practice, the team should discern the situation if someone claimed they “flew” and then used a Raid Pass in quick succession, as such an action is not typically allowed. Fingers crossed that this won’t lead to any penalties for ordinary gameplay, but only time will tell after the recent warning from Niantic.

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2025-07-12 19:10