The Pokémon Go Remote Pass Price Increase Controversy

Background

A little history for those who aren’t familiar with Pokémon Go, Pokémon Go spawns Raids in which a Pokémon takes over a Pokemon Gym and challengers are able to battle the Raid Boss and can capture it if they defeat it.

Typically a player has to be within a certain distance of the gym to be able to do the Raid. Remote Raid Passes allow players to participate in the raid from any distance.

Remote Raid Passes have been popular since their introduction and have enabled players to assist each other from anywhere in the world.

The Controversy

Recently Niantic, the game developer that owns Pokémon Go, announced the price for Remote Passes was going to be increased from 100 coins (in-game currency that you can currently buy 100 for $1) to 195 each. A three pack is also available with its price increasing from 250 coins to 525 coins.

In addition to the price increase the use of Remote Raid Passes, which never had been limited before, will now be limited to 5 per day.

Players were outraged over the increase as the prices were doubled by the developers with no justification for the increase.

Lower Value Yet Higher Price

Since their introduction Remote Raid Passes could be used at any raid, regardless of the difficulty or Pokémon.

This changed when Niantic introduced in-person only Community Day Raids and Elite Raids. These Raids specifically tell players “No invites can be sent” meaning they cannot send remote invites to other players and must work with trainers who are within reach of the gym.

Introducing raids that the passes can’t be used on decreased their effectiveness and thus their value.

So why increase the price?

This is even more baffling because Niantic likes to see players work together and often does global challenges in which they set a task and a global goal. When the goal is reached players throughout the world get a benefit.

Making the Remote Raid Passes cost more and limiting their use goes against Niantic’s objective of encouraging players to work together since the price increase will hurt players who will not be able to afford as many passes and then can’t use as many.

Reverse Course Niantic

The only way to solve this controversy will be for Niantic to reverse course which they have already stated they won’t do.

They have already lowered the value of the passes with the introduction of Raids the passes can’t work on, the new daily limit and the price increase make the Remote Raid Passes virtually useless now.

Niantic, I ask you to take all this in consideration and reverse the recent changes.

What Players Can Do

Fellow Pokémon Go players, please slow down or stop paying money into the game. The gold coins we use in-game are bought with our money.

By limiting the number of passes we can use in a day Niantic is trying to dictate how we spend the in game money we bought with our own money.

We have already expressed our disapproval for the price increase and new daily limit and Niantic responded saying they are keeping both in place. So now we can express our disapproval where Niantic will notice, their bottom line.

The Road Ahead

I realize this will be hard for some players which is why I’m suggesting both an outright boycott or spending less money in the game than usual.

The road ahead will be a long one, while I remain optimistic Niantic will hear our complaints and at least compromise with their customers it may take some time.

Fellow players, please be patient and respectful to Niantic and other players who don’t take the same action you do.