Breakdown
- Pokemon Go players are blasting Niantic on removing the original AR mode and being forced to use AR+ instead.
- The update has made catching Pokemon more difficult and has eliminated fan-favourite features like taking quick AR pictures and fast shiny checks.
- While Niantic introduced a static background for interacting with Buddy Pokemon to save time, many players feel the update is a step backward due to the loss of choice and additional steps required with AR+.
Pokemon GO's developers, Niantic, recently made a surprising announcement, stating that its latest update will see the removal of the game's original Augmented Reality (AR) mode in favour of AR+ mode. This has left players divided, with many demanding that Niantic rethink its decision and reinstate the original AR mode.
While initial reactions were mixed, with some praising the new options for interacting with Buddy Pokemon without AR, the overall sentiment towards the change has become overwhelmingly negative.
One Reddit post by user Jiqu0r outlines the problems with making AR+ the only option. They argue that the removal of "natural" AR hinders gameplay in several ways, including taking pictures in small spaces, playing at night, and catching and encountering Pokemon.
Comments on the post reveal many players have either disabled AR+ or stopped playing altogether. Some enjoyed taking silly pictures of Pokemon in their surroundings, while others pointed out the difficulty AR+ presents for Pokemon Go photographers due to its clunkiness and inflexibility.
While AR+ saw its debut in 2017, players previously had the option to use it alongside the original AR mode. AR+ fixes Pokemon to a specific location in the real world and scales their size depending on the species and distance. This immersive experience comes at the cost of making catching Pokemon more challenging.
The update has divided the community, with some celebrating the increased immersion of AR+ and others viewing it as a major step backwards.
Additionally, players lament the loss of features like quick AR catching and fast shiny checks, both of which were facilitated by the original AR mode. The additional steps required with AR+ are seen as a hindrance, especially for important events like Community Day.
The update eliminates features previously used by the community for various purposes, and the lack of warning or testing has further amplified the negativity. We're yet to see Niantic respond to these complaints.
The AR+ is not the only feature under fire right now. Have a look at how Pokemon Go catching is broken thanks to new backgrounds.