How COVID-19 transformed Pokémon Go into “Pokémon stay-at-home”

Enlarge / Gotta catch 'em all while not catching coronavirus (TM). (credit: Niantic / Aurich Lawson)

Since its launch in 2016, the premise of mobile titan Pokemon Go has centered on roaming the outdoors in search of mystical little creatures. As a result, it's a game that's particularly ill-suited to pandemic-derived restrictions on movement.

In an attempt to remedy this, Pokemon Go developer Niantic has rolled out regular updates to make the game more quarantine-compatible in recent months. This has led to a new era of play among many in the Pokemon Go scene. Call it stay-at-home, play-at-home."

Such a systemic change in the way Pokemon Go is played was likely necessary for the game to survive in an era where many (if not most) players were unable or afraid to travel and gather together for their usual raids. By providing players with a way to play from home, Niantic is effectively removing the golden geese taunting them from the park across the road.

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