Pokemon Go After 2022’s revenue tank, devs must reexamine their vision

Published: 2023-01-29T23:18:21

Updated: 2023-01-29T23:25:29

Seven Months ago, I had predicted Pokemon Go’s revenue would suffer in 2022 if Niantic didn’t change the game’s direction. It was correct.

In 2022, the value of several digital products crashed, including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and PokeCoins – if players are to be believed. The cost of PokeCoins hasn’t changed, but the price of item bundles and boxes has seen inflation, meaning players don’t get as much bang for their buck as they’ve been accustomed to.

But This is just one example of the many changes that have been made. Pokemon Go This has angered players over the past two years. Most These abominable decisions were included in an EntertainmentBox Op-Ed Starting at June Along with the idea that 2022 Niantic Change of direction is necessary

But Over the course of six months, however, all the high-rated accessibility features that were introduced in 2020 did not return. Niantic Continued to make controversial changes Pokemon Go. And The numbers are in. Pokemon Go In 2022, total revenues dropped another $100 million and there are no signs that this trend will stop.

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Pokemon Go Revenues will plummet in 2022

In 2020: When the world was unlocked, players were expecting Pokemon Go to fade away, along with small business owners struggling with their finances. For A game that was all about building community and exploring the outdoors seemed to have no place in a closed-in environment.

But, trainers couldn’t have been more wrong. 2020 Pokemon Go’s most financially successful year to date, and that was thanks to accessibility changes that made the game playable from home. Incense It would be possible to work regardless of whether players are stationary. Remote Raiding The game was a huge success with streamers and consumers.

Focusing On these features took Pokemon Go From $653 million to $909 millions in 2019, 2020 and beyond This The first year was also the best. Niantic In a single year, the company had made $1 billion.

HoweverIn 2021 Pokemon Go’s revenue had a slight dip, earning only $877 million. This Players were able to return to the real world when they saw a dip. Niantic Eliminating accessibility features But However, the actual dip in annual revenues was not yet evident.

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In Already signs were present in mid-2022. Pokemon Go wouldn’t have the same financial success it did the two years prior. In Revenue was down by 45% in Q1 2022 compared with Q1 2021.

And In late January From 2023 Statista The following was discovered: Pokemon Go Only $703 Million had been generated. That’s $200+ million less than 2020 and a massive drop compared to 2021’s marginal dip.

Players Are increasing but not spending

So players aren’t spending, but is Pokemon Go dying? The jury is still out on that topic, as the numbers we’re seeing tell different stories.

Every quarter of 2022 had the lowest number of recorded downloads in the game’s entire lifespan. This Each quarter starts in 2016. In total, Pokemon Go It was downloaded 44.2 millions times by 2022. For comparison, 2021 saw 52.8 million downloads.

Despite a decline in downloads, Pokemon Go The active player count has increased to over 80,000,000 in five months. And Only 77 Million players remained from the drop. June By December.

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So The problem isn't a shortage of players, but rather a lack in motivation to spend money. Which Ironically, this has caused frustration in the Pokemon Go community. Players PokeCoin buyers are open to paying a premium to get their PokeCoins Raid Passes And Incense And Pokeball… but only when they function the way they did in 2020.

Or Perhaps the reason for the low spending is that most of the items available to be bought can be found in the outdoors. But if that’s the case, why is everyone so frustrated?

Disabled, Rural, & Weekend Shift players shunned

Niantic’s answer to player outcry has stayed the same for quite some time. When someone asks why the accessibility changes were removed, they often reply it’s to “get back to what it once was. To get players out and in-person again.” As It would be a shame if the features were not retained.

The The truth is that if a player wishes to play, they can go out. Pokemon Go with friends, they’re going to. And if they don’t (or can’t), they’ll stop playing the game. The Playing from home with the new features available in 2020 was your only choice. What Certain players were prevented from using these features by removing them. Pokemon Go.

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This affects disabled players who cannot leave their homes, rural players who have nowhere to play locally, and players who work weekends that can’t participate in events. The The flexibility of the first and second groups is less than that of those who work weekends, but it's the same.

These Event tickets, as well as loads of other entertainment items are a popular choice for players. Incense If it allows them to enjoy the outdoors, Pokemon Go They can do so from their home or office. But instead, they’re marginalized because their lifestyle or circumstances don’t align with Niantic’s mission statement.

It’s frustrating to see the world’s highest-grossing media franchise be handled in a way that excludes players based on factors they may not be able to control. In a time where video games are becoming more accessible by the day, and companies are praised for their innovation… Pokemon Go It is moving in the opposite direction.

Niantic, reimplementing your 2020 accessibility features wouldn’t force people back indoors. It wouldn’t hinder your mission statement, and it wouldn’t hurt your in-person event ticket sales. InsteadThese features encourage play and incentivize purchase, as well as increasing the pleasure of playing with others in person.