Pokemon Go Leak Has Players Ready to Quit the Game

by

Since Niantic revealed the transfer of ownership of Pokemon Go to game developer Scopely, many players have been feeling anxious. Despite comforting words from both teams and Scopely, the developer’s history with previous games like Monopoly Go and Marvel Strike Force has raised questions about monetization strategies. Recently, a leak suggests that in-game ads could become a feature, which is just one of many potential money-making changes that worried fans when the sale was first announced. As they prepare for various monetization updates, many Pokemon Go enthusiasts are preparing to bid farewell to the game altogether.

Addressing player worries about ads and time limits in their free play experience, the director of Pokemon Go had earlier promised that such measures would never be implemented. However, recent findings from data mining suggest that advertisements might already be integrated into the game, which leaves some questioning the authenticity of these statements or perhaps the careful wording used. The extent to which these ads will intrude upon gameplay is yet unknown, but many players are displeased by this revelation. The information originates from the Pokemon Go dataminers @thepokemod group on X, who have unveiled a list of potential ad sources supposedly added to the mobile game.

Is Scopely currently managing the ads within the app?

Now, the app supports showing advertisements from multiple platforms, for instance:

1. GoogleAdMob
2. IronSource
3. ApplovinMax
4. Fyber
5. Appodeal
6. Admost
7. Topon
8. Tradplus
9. Yandex
10. ChartBoost
11. Unity
12. ToponPte
13. Custom
14. DirectMonetization…

— The Pokemod Group (@thepokemodgroup) March 28, 2025

Though Scopely might consider expanding the less controversial ad balloons from Pokemon Go, the various monetization strategies mentioned in this list are causing unease among gamers. This list encompasses multiple services designed to assist app developers in generating income, but many of these options don’t appear to be as unobtrusive as the current balloon ads and sponsored PokeStops model. In truth, most of these services focus on embedding ads within apps to monetize mobile applications, which seems to deviate from the existing strategy for the relatively ignorable balloon ads and sponsored locations.

As a dedicated fan, I want to clarify that finding these numerous monetization companies in the game’s code doesn’t automatically mean Pokemon Go will use them all. Instead, it appears that they are being tested to discover which ones could potentially bring the best returns. It’s worth noting that this discovery has sparked concerns among players, with some even contemplating deleting their accounts. However, this leak indicates that Pokemon Go is actively considering new ways of monetization, including ads, to keep the game thriving.

“It’s Snover”: Gamers Fear the Worst for Pokemon Go Ads

Players are unhappy about the recent leak concerning the future of Pokemon Go, as a Snover emoji accompanied by the caption “It’s Snover” in a popular Reddit thread hints at potential game-ending changes. As fans await Scopely’s decision on monetization strategies, they are preparing for the possible impact and sharing some pessimistic forecasts.

Comment
byu/Entire_Pineapple4732 from discussion
inpokemongo

The phrase “Premium Accounts are on the horizon,” implies that some users predict that additional features may soon only be accessible through paid subscriptions. Some speculate that gym badges or PokeBalls could become locked behind paywalls, while others suggest an increase in pop-up ads. A concern has been raised about potential ad companies with questionable practices, such as links to malware. In response, some players are contemplating the possibility of leaving Pokemon Go after almost a decade with the game. One player expresses that they would quit if ads were introduced, while another suggests walking without the app might be necessary.

The post reveals a common frustration among players regarding annoying and deceptive pop-up ads within the app. To avoid potential future restrictions, some players are moving their preferred Pokemon from Pokemon Go to Home for use in other Pokemon games. There’s even speculation that Scopely may consider making the transfer of Pokemon a premium feature, increasing the urgency to transfer the best ones before it’s too late.

It could take some time before we fully understand the implications of this leak on the future of Pokemon Go. Not every piece of code in a game necessarily leads to new features being implemented, so all we can do for now is patiently wait and observe.

Read More

2025-03-28 17:40