"People with physical disabilities were able to interact with PokéStops and Gyms that they were unable to before."
Pokemon Go players have taken to Change.org to protest plans to roll back a series of changes implemented in-game due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three major petitions have popped up on the website since Niantic made its announcement, collectively gathering more than 100,000 signatures at the time of writing.
“Niantic is reverting increased PokeStop and Gym interaction distance,” begins the largest, currently at 86,000 signatures. “They had previously said this change would be permanent, but have went back on their word.”
“Starting July Niantic plans to revert this back to its original distance which has no positive impact on the game,” reads a second, currently at 25,000 signatures. “It will make areas more difficult to get to and encourages groups to gather. Even though there has been great progress in vaccinations there is no reason not to keep encouraging safe distance practices.”
“I’ve known people who have been very grateful for the increased interaction range,” states the third, currently at 1,800 signatures. “People with physical disabilities were able to interact with PokéStops and Gyms that they were unable to before.”
Niantic intends to roll back changes to the game starting at the end of July, after Pokemon Go Fests in both the USA and New Zealand.
Pokemon Go is currently available on iOS and Android devices.
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