Pokemon Go Recently Brought Back an Old Problem, and It Needs to Be Fixed ASAP

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I remember when Pokemon Go first came out, it was tough if you didn’t live near a PokeStop or Gym. It really limited things for players like me who couldn’t always get out and about. But Niantic has made some awesome changes lately that let me enjoy the game way more from home. Adventure Sync is great because I can hatch eggs just by going about my daily life, and Remote Raids mean I can battle with friends without even leaving the house! It’s still a game that encourages you to explore, but now there are a lot more ways to play from the comfort of my couch.

For a while, Pokemon Go got much better for players in rural areas or those who prefer to play at home. The game started showing more Pokemon appearing outside of PokeStops and Gyms, meaning people could actually catch them without going anywhere special. I personally experienced this, catching new Pokemon right from my house – something that wasn’t possible before. However, recently many players are reporting that these wild Pokemon have disappeared, and it’s causing a lot of frustration.

Pokemon Go Wild Spawns Apparently Dramatically Reduced with Recent Update

Players of Pokemon Go have recently spotted some changes in the game, following an update released on January 6th before the Pinch Perfect event. While updates are common, this one has caused a lot of discussion for a couple of reasons. The sponsored McDonald’s Gyms are now gone from the game map. Also, it appears many fewer Pokemon are appearing in the wild, particularly in areas away from PokeStops.

Since January 6th, players of Pokemon Go have been reporting a significant drop in the number of Pokemon appearing in the game. Many are now only seeing one or two Pokemon on the map when they open the app, whereas before an update, they’d typically see six or more, even in less populated areas. This change is particularly frustrating for players who don’t often visit cities or towns.

Decreased spawns?
byu/Charming-Following-5 inpokemongo

It seems like most Pokémon Go players are noticing fewer Pokémon appearing in the game than usual. Many have contacted Pokémon Go support, hoping it’s a temporary problem. Initially, support responses offered standard troubleshooting advice. However, Niantic has now acknowledged the issue and stated they are actively investigating it.

It’s currently unknown whether the recent decrease in Pokemon appearing in the wild is a bug or a deliberate change by Niantic. While Niantic often adjusts the types of Pokemon that spawn and how often they appear, this particular reduction seems significant, especially for players who don’t often visit PokeStops. Niantic is looking into the issue, so player feedback could potentially influence a solution. However, the official Niantic Support team hasn’t yet announced any plans to address the fewer Pokemon spawns.

Nearly 10 Years In, Pokemon Go Still Struggles to Balance Remote & In-Person Play

When Pokémon Go first came out in 2016, it aimed to do something different: get people outside and interacting with the world around them while they played. That summer, many players enjoyed discovering Pokémon in real-world locations. However, this approach has always been a limitation for some. When I lived in a city, it wasn’t an issue – Pokémon stops were easily accessible. But not everyone lives in an area with that kind of access, which restricts who can fully enjoy Pokémon Go.

In 2020, Niantic faced the challenge of keeping Pokémon Go accessible to everyone, especially those who couldn’t easily go outside. Features like Remote Raids allowed players at home or in rural areas to still participate. However, the cost and limited number of Remote Raid Passes have been a consistent source of debate since their introduction.

Trading Pokémon has long been a challenge for Pokémon Go players. Previously, you had to be physically with another player to trade. This was especially difficult for those who lived far from others. While remote trading, introduced late last year, seemed like a great solution for players in rural areas, it can be complicated to use, and doesn’t always work as expected.

Finding Pokemon in the wild has also been a challenge. When Pokemon Go increased the number of wild Pokemon appearing in less populated areas, many players felt heard by Niantic. I remember being excited to open the app and see Pokemon all around my avatar, even while at home, which encouraged me to play more often. However, with the recent drastic reduction in wild Pokemon, many players in rural areas, including myself, are already losing interest in the game.

Many players are hoping Niantic increases the number of Pokemon appearing in Pokemon Go again soon. While it’s true there will likely still be challenges in making the game fair for those playing at home and those playing out and about, the recent decrease in Pokemon sightings feels like a significant setback, especially since the reason for it isn’t clear.

Have you been seeing fewer Pokémon around lately? Share your thoughts in the ComicBook Forum discussion!

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2026-01-09 17:13