HOW POKÉMON GO DEALS WITH COVID-19: THE LOCKDOWN CONUNDRUM
HOW POKÉMON GO DEALS WITH COVID-19: THE LOCKDOWN CONUNDRUM

Summary/Abstract: The paper reflects on the digital game Pokémon GO and its gameplay changes to comply with social restrictions that are being enforced to circumvent the global threat of COVID-19. Pokémon GO can be categorised into the group of augmented reality location-based digital games. In those, game mechanics interact with real-world objects and/or locations to create an immersive experience for the player. Pokémon GO, in its current state, is a game that heavily focuses on social interactions. This mostly consists of Raids, where players meet at dedicated locations to battle a specified enemy. Live events used to be held as well, either by the developer Niantic, or in the form of community driven player-versus-player tournaments; these interactions now have to be altered or cancelled to preserve a safe playing environment. In the text, we explain the changes that Pokémon GO had to undergo in its structure to help players with social distancing, as well as new or altered mechanics that were implemented to make this inherently social game playable even though the player is alone.

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