Cheating to Catch 'Em All? You Could Face a Permanent Ban
Anyone who tries to catch ’em all using less-than-honourable methods could face a permanent ban. Because Niantic, the developer behind the smash hit Pokémon Go, is now permanently banning players who cheat in order to get ahead in the free-to-play game.
TouchArcade has the news, and points to a small article that’s appeared on the Pokémon Go FAQ section of Niantic’s website which explains how players can “submit a ban appeal.” There, Niantic explains that players can indeed receive a permanent ban on their Pokémon Go account for breaking the game’s Terms of Service:
This includes, but is not limited to: falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokémon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third party software.
Articles online have recently explained how iPhone owners can use software in order to gain an unfair advantage in Pokémon Go, which provides official, paid means for getting ahead in the application. Niantic is clearly trying to stamp down on this kind of player behaviour, not the least because it directs gamers away from making in-app purchases (IAPs) for additional Poké Balls, bigger bags, and Lucky Eggs.
Pokémon Go has proven hugely successful. And it’s no surprise the game has broken records on the App Store in terms of the revenue its IAPs have generated. Though, as I’ve said before, limitations in the game have resulted in a number of players quitting the app once they reach higher levels. We’re still hoping for Niantic to tackle this through future updates.