Pokémon Go fans in China celebrate as game briefly available – before the country is blocked again

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Temporary Access for Pokémon Go Players in China and Russia Amid Geo-Blocking

This week, players of Pokémon Go in China and Russia experienced an unexpected opportunity to enjoy the game, despite the longstanding restrictions that typically render it inaccessible in these regions. Reports gathered from the Pokémon Go community on the popular subreddit, TheSilphRoad, indicate that players were able to send in-game postcards from locations like Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, a historically significant site that has faced heavy censorship from the Chinese government.

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For several years, large areas of China have effectively barred players from engaging with Pokémon Go. Tourists visiting the country often share accounts of their futile attempts to load the mobile game, only to find that no Pokémon appear to be caught and no locations are displayed on the map.

However, a glitch on Sunday evening allowed the game to briefly function in both China and Russia. In Russia, where the game’s developer, Niantic, halted gameplay in March 2022, this same glitch permitted players to enjoy the game once again.

Interestingly, Niantic’s database still contains information about in-game locations available in both countries, though normal gameplay access seems unlikely to resume anytime soon. In a statement released through X in 2022, Niantic expressed their support for global peace and highlighted the turbulent situation in Ukraine, adding, “Niantic’s games are no longer available for download in Russia and Belarus, and gameplay will also be suspended there shortly.”

When approached for comment regarding the brief revival of gameplay on Sunday, Niantic refrained from providing a statement to Eurogamer.

Looking ahead, Pokémon Go is set to host its most significant event of the year—Go Fest 2024—this weekend. Among its highlights will be the general release of the Mythical Pokémon, Marshadow. Additionally, fans can anticipate the introduction of new features related to Pokémon’s eighth generation, potentially including the much-anticipated Dynamax mechanic.

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