Pokemon Go Update Resets Game Progress, Some Users Complain

HIGHLIGHTS

• Latest update has reportedly reset the in-game progress for many players
• The step counter has been completely removed from the game
• The damage values for battle moves have been improved with the update

When a game as popular as Pokemon Go gets an update, it is bound to create reactions from all over the world, and so it did. The location-based augmented reality game received an update for both Android and iOS on Saturday and it is reported to have broken more things than it has fixed.

The Android v0.31.0 and iOS v1.1 updates allow players to customise their avatars inside game at any point. Earlier, the game allowed the customisation only in the beginning phase of the game. The update adjusted some damage values of battle moves in gym battles in order to make the fights more balanced, and it has also modified the battle damage calculation. The update also allows you to lock your favourite Pokemon so that you don't end up accidentally transferring them for 'Pokemon Candies'.

However, this is where the improvements end and the problems start.

The game update has erased the in-game progress for many Pokemon Go players and players have already started asking the company to either refund the money they spent on the game or to reverse the change, reports Telegraph. The update has also removed the step counter or footprints from the game, which informed the player about their estimated distance from nearby Pokemon.

Players had earlier complained that the feature was not working properly and needed to be fixed but its complete removal has left the players furious as now there is no way to determine exactly how far the nearby Pokemon are.

The Pokemon Go update also brings in certain security-related messages that will turn up right after the initial boot screen for the game and ask the players to be more careful while playing the game. Apart from these changes, the latest update brings in bug fixes and tweaks.

The Pokemon Go update for Android and iOS has also removed the battery saving option from the game which used to dim the brightness of the screen when the phone was held down while walking. This feature, although useful for the battery-drainer game, often made the screen unresponsive after it was held back up after usage according to some customer complaints. 

Another important development that coincides with the update's release is that several third-party apps and websites like Pokevision now longer function, users report. However, there is still no clarity if this development has any direct correlation with the update or not.

It is important to note that the game is yet to be officially released in India. The updated Pokemon Go apps for Android and iOS can be downloaded from respective stores right away in the countries where the game has been officially launched.