The latest Pokémon GO update has sparked outrage among some players as it officially drops support for 32-bit Android devices, effectively locking out users with older hardware. While the change was announced earlier this year, many players were blindsided when their devices were suddenly declared incompatible after updating the game.
Pokémon GO, which launched in 2016, has remained one of the most popular mobile games in the world thanks to its regular updates, added features, and ever-expanding roster of Pokémon to catch. Over nearly a decade, it has evolved from a barebones experience into a feature-rich game with raids, legendary Pokémon, trading, and more. However, that growth has also meant higher technical demands, and weaker hardware is starting to get left behind.
Players With Older Phones Shut Out
As of the latest patch, players on 32-bit Android devices are greeted with the message:
“This app isn’t compatible with your device anymore. Contact the developers for more info.”
The developers had previously explained that dropping support for 32-bit Android would help streamline development and allow the team to focus on newer operating systems and technologies. While Apple removed support for 32-bit iPhones years ago, some Android manufacturers continued producing 32-bit devices more recently, leading some players to assume their relatively new phones would still work with Pokémon GO. Unfortunately, that assumption has proven false.
For affected players, the only solution is upgrading to a newer device. Many fans have expressed frustration at the move, seeing it as yet another blow to a game that has already been losing players under its new owner, Scopely.
Backlash and Future Outlook
While the decision doesn’t impact the majority of the player base, it has angered a vocal segment of the community, who see it as yet another example of prioritizing revenue over player experience. Some have accused Scopely of pushing players to spend money not just in-game, but on entirely new phones to continue playing.
So far, Scopely has given no indication that it plans to reverse the change. While focusing on modern devices may indeed help improve the game in the long term, it has come at the cost of alienating some loyal players.
Exactly how Pokémon GO plans to leverage its freed-up resources going forward remains to be seen.
