Recently, Pokemon Go saw a much-enjoyed accessibility update that increased the interaction radius with objects and Pokemon. At least, that was how it seemed. As it turns out, this was not an intended update, and Niantic has confirmed that they have now patched it back out of the game. Many fans have taken issue with this decision as the change was considered a boon to many players for many different reasons. The change in radius was not a small one, either; it had been doubled for the duration it was present in the game, from 40m to 80m.
Fans are now growing irritable with Niantic for this decision. Many had been lauding the developer for making bold moves toward accessibility for players. For users living in rural areas and users with disabilities, the increased catching radius made the game much more enjoyable and playable. Now, players are being blindsided by a “fix” which removes what had previously itself been considered a fix.
Accessibility In Gaming – One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The topic of accessibility in gaming has been getting a lot of much-deserved focus recently. For many years, games had been largely only accessible to users in very specific demographics. Able-bodied, access to strong internet, etc. Now, though, developers are beginning to make strides in making their games accessible to users everywhere.
Games like The Last of Us Part II made considerable advancements in the field of video game accessibility, sporting an immense introduction of innovative options that greatly opened up the game to gamers all over, including settings that altered the look of the game for those with visual impairments, altered the sounds for hard of hearing users, and adjusted difficulty options for users with limited motor skills.
Also read: “They Cost How Much?”: The Last of Us Part 2 and Horizon: Forbidden West’s Budgets Were Astronomical
Both Xbox and PlayStation have introduced widely praised controller options for users who need them, as well. As such, gaming is growing more accessible than ever, so for games like Pokemon Go to seemingly tease users with accidental additions of adored accessibility and then abruptly abolish them shortly thereafter, despite player praise for the choice, it can sometimes feel like the industry takes one step forward, and two steps back.
This is not the first time Niantic has introduced and then removed accessibility features that were praised by the community. Previously, it had also introduced remote trading for users. This made it more difficult for players to connect with their friends as they pleased.
Do you agree with the fans? Should this change be reinstated, or was it the right choice for Niantic to limit catching radiuses again? Let us know on our social media feeds and in the comments below!
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