After a data mining regarding Pokémon GO, there were worries that there could be more advertisements in the game soon. Now there is reassurance.
What is the situation with Pokémon GO? It caused a lot of excitement when it became known that Niantic’s gaming division, including Pokémon GO, is being sold to the company Scopely.
The process caused concerns among some players, among other reasons, because they fear stronger monetization, Pay2Win, or more extensive advertising.
To address these initial concerns, Senior Product Manager Michael Steranka spoke in an interview with Polygon about the future of Pokémon GO. Already in the discussion, there was reassurance regarding more intensive advertising measures or stronger monetization.
However, the topic became more heated again when a few days ago, data mining surfaced that seemed to indicate advertising measures in Pokémon GO. These were shared in the Pokémon GO subreddit and caused many players to worry about their favorite game once again.
Niantic, however, responded again and clarified that there are currently no changes to be feared in terms of advertising.
What does Niantic say about the data mining?
The platform “Pokémon GO Hub” shared a statement from Niantic regarding the data mining, which was shared with content creators. In this statement, it says:
📣 Regarding the speculations about what data miners might have found and misinterpreted:
We will not implement intrusive advertising in Pokémon GO, neither now nor ever. We recently updated a third-party library in Pokémon GO that introduced code that added a written list of common advertising networks – but not the advertising frameworks themselves. This is an industry-standard practice but in no way reflects plans to change how the Pokémon GO team approaches advertising.
Statement from Niantic, via Pokémon GO Hub, translated
Especially the formulation “neither now nor ever” is likely to please many trainers regarding the future. However, it also corresponds to what Michael Steranka had already said earlier.
How is advertising currently done in Pokémon GO?
There is comparatively little advertising in Pokémon GO, but it is not a completely ad-free game. The known advertising measures in Pokémon GO include:
- A hot air balloon that can come to specific events. It usually contains a few items and a hint about a sponsor or similar inside. However, it can usually be ignored, or even sponsored messages in the game can be turned off.
- There are sponsored PokéStops, such as at certain stores.
- And in the store, there are occasionally clothes from advertising partners.
Otherwise, the monetization of the game is based on the item shop, where players can buy all sorts of items for Pokécoins. These can be earned or bought with real money. In addition, event tickets are an important aspect. They are unlocked for various occasions in the game and usually provide additional research, bonuses, or similar. The prices vary greatly here and usually depend on the respective event.
What’s next in Pokémon GO? April is just around the corner, and with it, new events will come into play. Once again, there are raid hours to be completed, spotlight bonuses to be collected, or creatures to catch on Community Day. Furthermore, the upcoming month offers some themed events that could be exciting. Want an overview? Then check here: All events in April 2025 for Pokémon GO.
