A pair of upcoming updates to Pokemon GO will render the game unplayable on certain older mobile devices, specifically 32-bit Android phones. This change, announced on January 9th, will be implemented in two phases: March 2025 and June 2025. The first update impacts some Samsung Galaxy Store downloads, while the second directly affects 32-bit Android devices from Google Play.
This affects millions of players. While Pokemon GO's active player base has declined from its peak of 232 million in 2016, December 2024 reports still show over 110 million active players within the preceding month. The upcoming updates will unfortunately cut off access for a subset of this player base.
Affected Devices (Partial List):
Niantic has provided a non-exhaustive list of incompatible devices, including:
Players using affected devices are urged to securely save their login credentials. While they can access their accounts after upgrading to a compatible device, access will be unavailable until the upgrade is complete. This includes any purchased Pokecoins.
Looking Ahead:
While this news is undoubtedly frustrating for affected players, 2025 promises significant developments within the broader Pokémon franchise. Highly anticipated releases like Pokémon Legends: Z-A (release date pending) and rumored projects such as Pokémon Black and White remakes and a new Let's Go installment are on the horizon. Further details regarding Pokemon GO's future may be revealed during a rumored Pokemon Presents showcase on February 27th.
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