In some parts of the world, there is currently tremendous heat, which also affects the gameplay experience in Pokémon GO. Therefore, trainers are now demanding an important change from the developers. We at MeinMMO show you what this is about.
What role does the weather play? Unlike other games, Pokémon GO is designed so that trainers must go outside to play. However, catching the popular pocket monsters is not always safe in every weather condition.
Currently, there is also tremendous heat in some regions, where people are generally advised not to stay outside for long periods. Many players see problems related to the game here and are calling for urgent changes.
This is what Pokémon GO should change in extreme weather
What problems do trainers see? Although according to weather services, there are extreme weather conditions in many parts of the world, and even Pokémon GO displays a warning when starting the game, trainers are still sent outside.
Popular events like Community Day or the spotlight and raid hours continue to take place and are meant to encourage trainers to move. However, trainers have concerns about their safety and are calling for improvements in spawns so that they do not have to stay outside for long.
By the way: even if you want to play other Pokémon titles outside, caution is advised:
Improved incense during weather warnings
What would be a solution? In recent months, the home bonuses introduced during the pandemic have been systematically removed, making it nearly impossible to play from home. For example, the incense during standstill has been worsened and players now only receive a monster every 5 minutes if they do not move.
Additionally, the remote raid passes have become more expensive and have been removed from the weekly boxes to encourage trainers to raid in groups on-site. However, according to the reddit community, Niantic should address this and create solutions.
This is also supported by the user OneEyedBanshee, who refrained from playing during the Community Day with Staralili due to the currently high temperatures, to avoid endangering his own health. The reason was the event period, which took place from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, right in the midday sun.
Therefore, he demands in his reddit post that the spawns from incense during weather warnings should be increased so that safe gameplay is possible.
What do other trainers say about this idea? This proposal also meets with considerable approval from other trainers. After all, players who are in a region with such extreme weather conditions could still participate in events without being forced to potentially put themselves in danger.
Moreover, the developers have faced considerable criticism in recent months due to numerous changes in the game. The reddit user Negative-Champion260 also finds this idea excellent and believes that Niantic could improve its damaged image. He writes:
It is smart to earn money by developing a game based on AR technology where players can take photos of Pokémon in the wild and track the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. However, it would be wiser for Niantic to restore its tarnished image through measures like promoting responsible behavior as described by OP. If Niantic does not want to constantly increase the spawn rate of incense, it should definitely be increased during weather warnings.
Negative-Champion260 (via reddit.com)
“Niantic has made it clear that they do not care about our safety”
Others also share this sentiment, as they have had similar experiences in recent days. They criticize especially the weather warnings in the game.
These only offer players the option to select “I am safe” and, according to some statements, give trainers little feeling that Niantic is genuinely concerned about their safety, especially when combined with changes and push notifications in the game. There are comments under the post such as (via reddit.com):
- Yorkshire_Edge: “Yes, there are weather warnings for extreme heat in the United Kingdom stating that you should not go outside, especially not in the midday sun. Yet Community Day was from 11 AM to 2 PM. You shouldn’t warn people to be safe if you are actively punishing them for it by reducing spawn rates and nerfing remote raid passes.”
- myanzai14: “I agree! There were flood warnings, severe weather warnings, and landslide warnings in my area last week. Torrential rain. During these times we cannot go outside. And yes, we regularly experience very hot summers, so we don’t want to go outside then either. It would be nice if the spawn rate could be increased under such circumstances.”
- ReStitchSmitch: “Covid is booming. I chuckled when I got the push notification to ‘meet in person’. Niantic has made it clear they do not care about our health or safety. Fry to death? Freeze to death? Who cares! ‘Go ExPlOrE'”
- MrAlexLP: “We are here at the other end of Germany and the forecast says 35°C with not a single cloud in the sky, no wind, and about 60% humidity. […] I have only gone out to grind from 6 AM to 10 AM in recent weeks, but many people do not have the luxury to do that (+ events at noon). I’m afraid there just isn’t a good solution without violating Niantic’s ‘core values’.”
- penemuel13: “I think this is a great idea, but you can’t completely ignore ‘dumb’ warnings, such as air quality warnings. Some people may be fine, but for those of us with compromised lung function, it can be very dangerous to be outside under such conditions.”
Whether Niantic will actually respond to the trainers’ demands and make playing from home possible during extreme weather conditions in the future remains to be seen. If there are any official updates on this, you will, of course, find out about them on MeinMMO.
What do you think of OneEyedBanshee’s proposal? Should Niantic adjust the spawn rate of incense during such extreme weather conditions? Or do you think it is perfectly fine that there is only a warning in the game? Feel free to share your opinion with us here on MeinMMO in the comments and discuss it with other trainers.
In a few weeks, the next Community Day will take place, and speculation is already buzzing. Trainers are predicting one of the best dragon attackers for the Community Day in August.
