Pokémon GO's In-Person Community Days Punish Rural Players
Gameplay in Pokémon GO is currently being changed to encourage in-person engagement, but Community Day meetups negatively affect rural players, preventing large numbers from participating. Pokémon GO was originally marketed as a way for Pokémon fans to come together in person and enjoy the series. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic changes were made to help provide a safe environment for players. In a recent Pokémon GO 2022 roadmap, it was revealed Niantic plans to refocus gameplay to promote in-person interactions and exercise, but for many, these changes are having a widespread negative impact.
In recent months, Niantic has implemented several changes designed to encourage community gameplay. This has included cutting Community Day durations in half, as well as nerfing the effectiveness of the Incense item. While these changes have likely helped get fans out and playing at the same time, they have also negatively impacted those who are unable to play Pokémon GO during the given event windows, or who have mobility challenges. Because of this, Pokémon GO has seen a backlash from players, with many calling for the changes to be reverted.
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However, in a recent update on PokémonGoLive,Community Day meetups may be a new point of frustration for many Pokémon GO players. Community Day meetups are large-scale events that encourage players to congregate in a single location for the duration of a Community Day event. However, these meetups are only available in select locations, with most being large urban areas like Seattle or San Francisco. Because of this, rural players in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, and many others won't be able to participate unless they
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