Pokémon Go players are becoming increasingly frustrated with the developer, Niantic, as they continue to ban users for submitting PokéStops or Routes that do not meet their criteria. This has sparked a heated debate among players who feel that their efforts to improve the game are being unfairly punished.
The frustration was reignited when a player shared two confusing emails they received from Niantic. The first email, dated September 21, informed them of a 30-day ban for submitting nominations that did not meet the criteria. However, even after the 30-day period, the player was still unable to log in. When they reached out to support for clarification, they were informed of a typo in the first email and that they were actually banned for 90 days. This revelation has further fueled the frustration towards Niantic.
The Reddit thread where this was shared quickly gained attention, with many players expressing their dissatisfaction with Niantic’s response. The controversy surrounding suspensions and bans for submissions that do not get approved has been ongoing since the introduction of Routes in July.
Another player added to the discussion by sharing a meme that humorously highlights Niantic punishing players for trying to improve the game through Wayfarer submissions. This post also received significant attention, with players voicing their frustration over Niantic’s lack of transparency. There is a general consensus that Niantic has not provided clear explanations or clarifications for the bans and suspensions.
The grounds on which Pokémon Go players are being suspended remain unclear, as it not only affects their Wayfarer account but also their game account. Niantic had previously stated that they would expand punishments to Pokémon Go accounts to combat abusive uses, but this does not seem to be consistently applied.
The case of a 90-day suspension, if true, is particularly confusing as players have only shared instances of 30-day suspensions for nominations that do not meet the criteria. Since September 15, Niantic has claimed to have lowered punishments for such cases, implementing a new “Wayfarer abuse enforcement ladder” that includes warnings before suspensions and an appeal process.
The review process for approving Routes, which was introduced in July, has also come under scrutiny from players. Many Routes that are deemed dangerous or of poor quality have been approved despite not meeting Niantic’s criteria. This further adds to the frustration felt by players.
Overall, players are frustrated by the lack of communication from Niantic and the unclear criteria for approving Routes. Niantic has yet to provide further information on the matter, leaving players feeling unheard and unfairly punished.
Source: DOTESPORTS
