A Pokémon Go player has been suspended from the Wayfarer program for submitting a route that was approved on the same day. The suspension occurred on November 20, shortly after the player’s submitted route was published and then removed. Although their game account remains unaffected, they are no longer able to submit routes through the Wayfarer program.
The incident sparked a strong reaction from the community, with many users expressing their dissatisfaction with the strict punishments for submitting routes that were not ultimately approved. Despite Niantic’s recent softening of these penalties on September 15, players still feel that the consequences are too severe.
One of the top comments in a Reddit thread suggested that players should refrain from creating routes or stops altogether if Niantic continues to punish those who try to assist them. The comment also questioned whether Niantic truly believes that players intentionally submit dangerous routes to harm others, highlighting the frustration felt by players who simply want to contribute to the game.
The Wayfarer program allows Pokémon Go players to create and submit routes and PokéStops for approval. These routes must be safe and provide interesting itineraries for users. If a route fails to meet these criteria, it may be considered abusive, resulting in a suspension for the creator. Prior to September, players faced both Wayfarer program and game suspensions for submitting unapproved routes. However, the current punishment only restricts players from submitting routes while still allowing them to play Pokémon Go.
Players have also voiced concerns about the approval process itself, as poor-quality routes have been published in recent months. Some of these routes were located on highways or consisted solely of circular paths. Controversies surrounding routes continue to arise, indicating ongoing issues within the system.
Source: DOTESPORTS
