Pokémon GO to Drop Support for Older Devices

Pokemon GO to Drop Support for Older Devices in 2025

Upcoming updates to Pokemon GO will end support for certain older mobile devices, impacting players using 32-bit Android phones. These changes, scheduled for March and June 2025, mean these players will no longer be able to access the game unless they upgrade their phones. Players are advised to safeguard their login details before the updates roll out.

Despite this shift, 2025 promises exciting developments for the Pokemon franchise as a whole, with anticipated and rumored game releases planned for the year.

Pokemon GO, the popular augmented reality game, is celebrating its ninth anniversary this summer. While its peak player count was significantly higher in its initial year (around 232 million), it maintains a substantial player base, exceeding 110 million active players in December 2024. However, Niantic's efforts to optimize the game for newer devices necessitates ending support for older models.

On January 9th, Niantic announced that several older Android phones will become incompatible following two upcoming updates. The first update (March 2025) affects some Android devices downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store, while the second (June 2025) specifically targets 32-bit Android devices obtained via Google Play. While a complete list of affected devices wasn't provided, the announcement confirmed that 64-bit Android devices and all iPhones will 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 affected by these changes should save their login credentials to maintain access to their accounts after upgrading their phones. However, until they upgrade, access to their accounts, including any purchased Pokecoins, will be unavailable.

While this news may disappoint some players, the future looks bright for the broader Pokemon franchise. The release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is anticipated, along with rumored remakes of Pokemon Black and White, and a potential new Let's Go series installment. The upcoming Pokemon Presents show on February 27th may offer further details regarding Pokemon GO's future plans.