Pokemon GO Ending Support for Some Devices Soon

Pokemon GO to Drop Support for Older Devices in 2025

A pair of upcoming updates will render Pokemon GO unplayable on several older mobile devices, starting as early as March 2025. This change primarily affects 32-bit Android devices, leaving long-time players with outdated phones needing to upgrade to continue their gameplay.

Pokemon GO, a globally popular augmented reality game, is approaching its ninth anniversary. While its player base has fluctuated since its 2016 launch, it still boasts a significant number of active users. However, Niantic's optimization efforts to improve performance on modern devices necessitate ending support for older models.

On January 9th, Niantic announced that upcoming updates in March and June 2025 will remove compatibility for specific devices. The first update impacts certain Android devices downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store, while the second targets 32-bit Android devices obtained via Google Play. While a complete list hasn't been provided, affected devices include:

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
• Various Android devices released before 2015

Players using affected devices are urged to securely save their login credentials. While account access will be restored after upgrading to a compatible device, gameplay will be unavailable until the upgrade is complete. This includes access to any purchased Pokecoins.

Despite this inconvenience, 2025 promises exciting developments for the Pokemon franchise. Highly anticipated releases like Pokemon Legends: Z-A are on the horizon, along with rumored projects such as Pokemon Black and White remakes and a potential new Let's Go title. While Pokemon GO's future plans remain unclear, a potential Pokemon Presents showcase on February 27th may shed more light on upcoming content.