Pokémon GO creators have found themselves in a shitstorm over a new update released over the weekend. The update was one which promised to fix several weedles bugs in the game and also to help keep the servers up and going (an issue that users have faced since day one).
However, in a pretty major screw up, many thundershocked iOS users found that after updating the game they had lost all their data and were back at the beginning of the game again with zero Pokémon.
Twitter experienced an earthquake of people losing their minds after having spent countless hours (and potentially; some serious money) progressing through the game over the past month or so.
Pokemon go updated automatically and now my ENTIRE account reset. I had some good ass Pokemon. I’m so mad.
— Ashley (@_ashhhley__) July 31, 2016
My Pokemon Go app updated AND IT RESET ME BACK TO CREATING A NEW CHARACTER TF IS THIS
— shellbelle (@chelebelle_jg) July 31, 2016
MY POKEMON GO HAS RESET ITSELF WITH THE UPDATE WHAT A CRUEL CRUEL WORLD THIS IS I AM OUTRAGED I WAS LEVEL 4 FOR GOODNESS SAKE
— little miss ginge (@_JessicaArneil) July 31, 2016
my pokemon go account reset and now im level 1 with nothing im also going to kill myself it was nice knowing you all
— manelle (@manellekay) July 31, 2016
Thankfully, Niantic have since come out saying there’s no need to self-destruct, and in a post about the error, they’ve explained that due to a change in the game’s Google account integration some iOS users were automatically re-logged in to the game with an email address lifted from their Safari browser. This may not necessarily mimic the email they originally used to sign up for Pokémon GO with.
The new update has also been a doubleslap to the face for people trying to locate Pokémon, as it has taken away the proximity steps representing how close Pokémon are to your location.
#PokemonGO right now. pic.twitter.com/PMiVDrKInO
— Alfredo Diaz (@AlfredoPlays) July 31, 2016
The move comes shortly after creators forced third-party Pokémon-locating website Pokévision into submission, leaving them with little choice but to shut down their locating service. This has left many users asking for a swift refund for their in-game purchases, for a game which no longer provides the functionality it once promised.
Seems like the recent #PokemonGO update change list should just say:
“Removed helpful stuff, changed pointless stuff, game still broken.”— MAGNEDETH (@MAGNEDETH) August 1, 2016
The mishandling of pokemon go by @NianticLabs will go down In history as one of the greatest blunders in gaming history.
Unbelievable.— boogie2988 (@Boogie2988) July 31, 2016
Wow, woke up to find @NianticLabs has just executed themselves samurai style with terrible design choices in the new PokemonGO update. RIP
— Sam Thorne (@Strippin) July 31, 2016
Spent $350 total on Poké coins since @PokemonGoApp has gone to waste. @NianticLabs can I get a refund? Or the 3 steps back? #PokemonGO
— ⚓Stephanie (@Xxsteff22xX) July 31, 2016
PokemonGo in a Nutshell pic.twitter.com/v3DzJi8MQS
— Pokémon GO (@CatchEmAlI) August 1, 2016
For anyone who is looking for a refund, this Reddit thread has a bunch of examples of requests and also details how to get your money back.