Pokemon GO to Drop Support for Older Android Devices in 2025
A pair of upcoming updates to Pokemon GO will render the game unplayable on several older mobile devices, starting as early as March 2025. The changes primarily affect 32-bit Android devices, prompting players with affected phones to upgrade their hardware to continue their gameplay.
This move by Niantic, the game's developer, aims to optimize Pokemon GO's performance on newer devices. While the game celebrated its eighth anniversary in 2024, maintaining a substantial player base exceeding 110 million active users in December 2024, this update necessitates the discontinuation of support for older technology.
The official announcement on January 9th detailed that the updates, scheduled for March and June 2025, will impact specific Android devices. The first update affects some Android devices downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store; the second targets 32-bit Android devices obtained via Google Play. While a complete list hasn't been provided, affected devices include, but are not limited to:
- 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 disruption, 2025 promises to be a significant year for the Pokemon franchise. Anticipation builds for the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, alongside rumored projects such as Pokemon Black and White remakes and a potential new entry in the Let's Go series. The future of Pokemon GO itself remains somewhat unclear, but a rumored Pokemon Presents showcase on February 27th may shed more light on upcoming developments.
