Players are dissatisfied with the changes that Niantic has made to Pokémon GO in recent months. Content creators for the mobile game are now also experiencing the frustration over the developers’ decisions. The Australian Twitch streamer FleeceKing shared the hurtful messages he receives for supporting the game.
Why are people so dissatisfied? Niantic has become less popular with trainers lately. In particular, the changes to remote raids, which were introduced during the Corona pandemic, have caused frustration.
But also an event introducing Ignivor has sparked criticism, and even the postcard feature has been ruined in the eyes of some players. The anger, however, is directed not only at Niantic but also at supporters of the game.
Player receives hate messages for buying a ticket
Who is the player? “FleeceKing” is not only the largest Twitch streamer for Pokémon GO but is also regarded as the first trainer to reach level 50 in the game. The player has voiced similar criticisms about the changes to the remote raid system as many others (via Twitter).
What kind of messages are they? On April 28, FleeceKing shared a collage of messages he received because he purchased a ticket to Pokémon GO Fest 2023. In the messages, he is called a hypocrite, insulted, and mocked. In one message, it even says he should take his own life.
“You can do both”
How does FleeceKing respond? The streamer explains how much these messages hurt him. In a stream on the same day, he elaborated on the situation, stating that he needs to take a step back for his mental health.
Furthermore, FleeceKing emphasized that nothing has changed in his critical views just because he bought a ticket:
If you are a reasonable person who genuinely cares about our game and the community, then it doesn’t matter how many Shinys are released, how many Pokémon are introduced, or which GO Fests are organized.
The reality is, if the game means enough to you, you don’t forget the remote raid changes, and you don’t forget Niantic’s abhorrent decisions. I believe people forget that you can do both.
The streamer says he actually has only two options: to give up the game entirely or to make the best of it. Since FleeceKing works as a content creator and his content is almost exclusively about Pokémon GO, it is hardly an option for him to quit the game.
We at MeinMMO asked you whether, after the changes in Pokémon GO over the past months, you are still as diligently collecting pocket monsters on your phones as before. Almost 2,000 of you responded, and you can find the results here:
