Pokemon GO Ending Support for Some Devices Soon

Pokemon GO to Drop Support for Older Devices in 2025

Upcoming updates to Pokemon GO will render the game unplayable on certain older mobile devices, starting as early as March 2025. This change primarily impacts 32-bit Android devices, leaving long-time players with incompatible phones needing to upgrade to continue their gameplay.

Launched in July 2016, Pokemon GO celebrates its ninth anniversary this summer. Despite a decline from its peak of 232 million active players in its first year, the game remains remarkably popular, boasting over 110 million active players in December 2024. However, this player base will shrink with the upcoming updates.

Niantic, the game developer, announced on January 9th that support will end for several older phone models following two updates scheduled for March and June 2025. The first update affects some Android devices downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store, while the second specifically targets 32-bit Android devices downloaded via Google Play. While a complete list of affected devices isn't provided, 64-bit Android devices and all iPhones are expected to remain compatible.

Affected Devices (Partial List):

• 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
• Certain Android devices released before 2015

Players with affected devices are urged to safeguard their login credentials. While they can access their accounts after upgrading their phones, access will be unavailable until the upgrade is complete, including any purchased Pokecoins.

Despite this setback for some players, 2025 promises to be a significant year for the Pokemon franchise. Highly anticipated releases like Pokemon Legends: Z-A (pending release date) and rumored titles such as Pokemon Black and White remakes and a new Let's Go installment are on the horizon. While Pokemon GO's future plans remain unclear, a leaked February 27th date for a Pokemon Presents showcase may reveal more details.