Pokemon GO Players Criticize Game’s ‘Newest Predatory Tactic’

Pokemon GO Players Criticize Game's 'Newest Predatory Tactic'

Key Takeaways

  • Pokemon GO fans are unhappy with the new “Upgrade Rewards” option, citing it as a predatory tactic.
  • Users are dissatisfied with the lack of transparency in the upgrade contents and fear accidental purchases.
  • Despite safety measures in place, players feel the game is increasingly pushing microtransactions at every opportunity.

As a seasoned Pokémon GO player with countless hours under my belt, I must admit that the latest “Upgrade Rewards” feature has left me feeling a tad uneasy. It’s not the first time Niantic has introduced changes that have left us scratching our heads, but this one seems to be pushing the boundaries of transparency and accidental purchases a bit too far.


Players of Pokemon GO have expressed discontent over a recent adjustment to the game, describing it as an “exploitative strategy.” Although this new aspect of Pokemon GO might not seem as problematic as loot boxes in certain other games, the players remain frustrated by it.

In recent times, enthusiasts of the game Pokemon GO have been vocal about numerous concerns they have with the game. Following COVID-19, players of Pokemon GO have expressed reluctance towards returning to in-person events and raids, yet Niantic has remained firm on this matter. The handling of Gigantamax Pokemon within Pokemon GO, as well as practices some fans perceive as attempts to drive microtransactions, have not been received positively.

Currently, Pokemon GO players are expressing dissatisfaction towards the “Upgrade Rewards” feature after Dynamax battles. Instead of just receiving their earned items like berries, recovery items, Poke Balls, and so forth, users are given an opportunity to upgrade their rewards by spending 200 PokeCoins. The main complaint from players revolves around the lack of clarity regarding what exactly they’re getting with this upgrade option, although there are other concerns raised as well.

What Don’t Pokemon GO Players Like About the Upgrade Rewards Option?

In the Upgrade Rewards feature, not all the items included in the upgrade are explicitly listed. Instead, after mentioning an XP increase and certain items, there’s a gift box labeled “and more!” This has led some users to express discomfort about having to click through to discover the exact nature of the additional reward. Some players also believe that the cost is not proportionate to the reward, while others have expressed concerns about accidentally triggering the exchange or allowing children to do so unintentionally, potentially wasting PokeCoins.

Fellow fans have pointed out that the player has to select exchange twice in order to confirm the upgrade, so it’s less likely for a user to make the mistake. However, the general sentiment that the game is pushing microtransactions at every turn is one remaining issue that fans see with this. In theory, playing Pokemon GO without spending money is entirely possible, but many players have found it to be increasingly difficult to do so as the game has gone on. In any case, users are advising their fellow players to be careful when completing a Dynamax battle, and to avoid letting any children handle the phone to avoid a similar incident to players’ kids wasting Master Balls in the game.

Read More

2024-10-17 04:14