Pokemon GO Ending Support for Some Devices Soon

Pokemon GO enthusiasts, brace yourselves for some significant changes coming to the game in 2025. The beloved augmented reality game, which celebrates its ninth anniversary this summer, will soon be unplayable on certain older mobile devices. Specifically, Niantic, the game's developer, has announced that support for 32-bit Android devices will end following updates scheduled for March and June 2025. This shift aims to enhance the game's performance on more modern devices, but it means that players with older phones will need to upgrade to continue their Pokemon-catching adventures.

Since its launch in July 2016, Pokemon GO has seen tremendous success, with peak player activity reaching around 232 million active users in its debut year. Even now, the game remains popular, boasting over 110 million active players in the 30-day period ending December 2024. However, the upcoming updates will impact players using certain older models, including the Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3, J3, Sony Xperia Z2, Z3, Motorola Moto G (1st generation), LG Fortune, Tribute, OnePlus One, HTC One (M8), ZTE Overture 3, and other Android devices released before 2015.

The first update in March will affect Android devices that downloaded Pokemon GO from the Samsung Galaxy store, while the June update will target 32-bit Android devices that acquired the game through Google Play. Players using these devices are advised to save their login information securely, as they will still be able to access their accounts after upgrading to a compatible phone. However, until they switch to a supported device, they won't be able to play the game or access any purchased Pokecoins.

While this news may be disheartening for some, the Pokemon franchise has an exciting year ahead in 2025. Fans can look forward to the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and there are rumors swirling about potential remakes of Pokemon Black and White, as well as a new entry in the Let's Go series. Additionally, a leaked date for a Pokemon Presents show on February 27 might shed more light on what's in store for Pokemon GO and the broader franchise.