For years now,Pokemon GOhas offered fans a compelling alternate way to interact with their favorite collectible monsters. Rather than roaming around a fictional setting in search of Pokemon, fans ofPokemon GOcan encounter monsters in the real world and get actively rewarded for walking around to find them. Over the years,Pokemon GOhas added quite a few extra ways to reward fans for walking around, like earning bonus Candy from a Buddy Pokemon, but that doesn’t mean the AR mobile game’s relationship with player movement has always been stable. On the contrary, a new controversy about changes toPokemon GO’s Incense has opened old wounds.
Niantic recently tweakedPokemon GO’s Incenseby drastically reducing the rate at which Pokemon spawn, while Incense is active unless players are moving while using Incense. That change has sparked online protests and criticism from thePokemon GOcommunity. While that’s certainly negative forPokemon GOitself, the latest battle with Niantic overPokemon GOalso matters because Niantic might release a new game in the near future. A new trademark suggests that something calledCampfireis in development at Niantic, butCampfirecould struggle to find an audience if Niantic’s reputation is defined by player outrage.
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Niantic’s Controversies and Campfire’s Player Base
Pokemon GOfans opposed to the Incense change raise a lot of compelling points about the change to Incense, since it severely hampersPokemon GOfans who don’t have the time, location, or ability to walk around every day in search of Pokemon. Incense helps these players participate in the game’s events, but now, it’s hardly more effective than just waiting for random Pokemon spawns.
This is only the latest controversy around Niantic’s handling ofPokemon GO. Players have criticized Niantic for everything from PokeStop changes to Research Breakthrough rewards tolongstanding bugs inPokemon GO.While the game continues to thrive, Niantic has an increasingly embattled relationship with players.
Pokemon GOclearly isn’t going anywhere, but these debacles are a clear obstacle forthe newly rumoredCampfire.The new trademark is almost certainly the title of a new AR game, since that’s the genre Niantic specializes in, which means Niantic would love to getPokemon GOfans to tryCampfire. However, if AR fans aren’t keen on how Niantic has treatedPokemon GO, then they likely won’t be particularly interested in givingCampfirea chance. IfCampfirefails to courtPokemon GOplayers due to Niantic’s habit of upsetting fans, thenCampfiremay unfortunately be dead on arrival.
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How Campfire Could Succeed
Campfirecould be a notable new project from Niantic because it doesn’t appear to be attached to another IP.Ingressremains Niantic’s only surviving original concept; historically, Niantic has favored licensed games likePokemon GO,the lateHarry Potter: Wizards Unite,andthe relatively recentPikmin Bloom.Campfire’s generic name suggests it’s an original idea, which means it doesn’t have the benefit of a built-in audience likePokemon GOdoes.Campfirecould escape Niantic’s reputation if it has a secret affiliation with another IP, but for now, it’s impossible to say if Niantic is collaborating with anyone.
With no clear branding available, Niantic might be able to giveCampfirea better launch simply by changing its tune when it comes toPokemon GO. Fans have been asking for more transparency and cooperation from Niantic for years, so if the company starts catering more towards the requests of players in the near future, thenCampfiremight draw inPokemon GOplayers after all. Last year, Niantic did reinstatecertainPokemon GOaccessibility changesrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic after players protested their removal, so hopefully Niantic will repeat that behavior in the coming months and years. If it does so, thenCampfirehas a better chance to succeed.
Pokemon GOis available now for Android and iOS devices.
