Pokémon Go almost doubles the price of one of its most vital features
Pokémon stop
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Pokémon Go’s Remote Raid Pass is due to have its price raised on April 6.
Remote Raids were a feature introduced during the COVID pandemic. It allowed players to continue playing during the lockdown – a time when it was tough foranyonetoPokémon Goanywhere. Remote Raids allowed players to engage in tough PvE battles fromthe comfort of their own homes; however, it looks like Niantic, the developers behind the AR mobile-based monster-catching simulator, are placing a higher premium on the feature.
Niantic will increase theRemote Raid Passthree-pack price from 300 to 525 PokéCoins, while a single Remote Raid Pass will now set you back 195 PokéCoins up from 100. However you look at it, this is a significant increase in cost, almost doubling the amount of currency required to enjoy the feature.
Price hikes in a video game will never be popular, but the increased cost ofPokémon Go’s Remote Raids cause even more concern than you might expect. Both disabled players and players who live in remote parts of the world benefitted hugely from the feature, and will now have a more challenging time enjoying the raids.
OneReddituser, Sweaty_cockroach7708 has called for amass boycottin a post that has since been removed by the subreddit’s moderators. Another user, hjuvapena, shared animage likeningPokémon Goto the Titanic, doomed to sink on April 6 as “millions of players lost their interest.”
Prepare for trouble
The price rise certainly seems like a cheap shot from Niantic, who havemade over $6 billionfromPokémon Goover the past six years. ThoughPokémon Goalways encouraged players to get out and about, there is a lot to be said about the importance of accessibility. Walking to a nearby Pokéstop isn’t as easy for some as it is for others. Plus, for folks living in remote parts of the world, getting to an important location may be a much taller order than you might expect.
Walking to a nearby Pokéstop isn’t as easy for some as it is for others
Rather than charge more money for existing features, it would be a far better look for Niantic to introduce new features and charge for those instead.Pokémon Gohas enjoyed plenty of events in the past that did just that. The GO Fest and Johto Tour in 2022 generated significant revenue for Niantic by charging players for a “ticket”, comparable to a battle pass in other titles.
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There are, therefore, clearly ways Niantic could have its cake and eat it. Resorting to price hikes, especially when they disproportionately affect more vulnerable players, is unlikely to win the company or its product any favor with fans. Hopefully, Niantic will respond well to the discourse surrounding these changes. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath given Niantic’sresponse to previous price hikes.
An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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