Pokemon Go will soon be unplayable in Russia

Russian players will soon not be able to join in scenes like this. (credit: PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Pokemon Go developer Niantic has become the latest company to answer Ukraine's call to cut off Russia by stopping downloads of its games in the country. But Niantic is also going further than some of its peers, saying that "gameplay will also be suspended [in Russia and Belarus] shortly."

"We stand with the global community in hoping for peace and a rapid resolution to the violence and suffering in Ukraine," Niantic said in a tweeted announcement late Thursday night.

Niantic joins major game publishers-including Take-Two, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, and CD Projekt Red-as well as all major game console makers in preventing new players from obtaining their games and products in Russia during the ongoing invasion. But those other game companies have largely stopped short of suspending access for Russian customers that previously purchased games before the sanctions started.

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