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 affects 32-bit Android devices, leaving long-time players with unsupported phones needing to upgrade to continue their gameplay.
Launched in July 2016, Pokemon GO, a location-based augmented reality game, continues to boast a significant player base, exceeding 110 million active players in December 2024. However, Niantic's efforts to optimize the game for newer devices necessitate ending support for older models.
On January 9th, Niantic announced that two upcoming updates (March and June 2025) will remove compatibility for specific older Android phones. The first update impacts some Android devices downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store, while the second targets 32-bit Android devices obtained via Google Play. While a complete list of affected devices wasn't provided, Niantic confirmed that 64-bit Android devices and all iPhones will remain supported.
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
- Several Android devices released before 2015
Players with affected devices are urged to securely save their login credentials. While they can access their accounts after upgrading to a compatible device, they won't be able to play until the upgrade is complete, including any purchased Pokecoins.
Despite this disruption, 2025 promises exciting developments for the Pokemon franchise. Highly anticipated releases like Pokemon Legends: Z-A are on the horizon, alongside rumored projects such as Pokemon Black and White remakes and a new Let's Go series entry. While Pokemon GO's 2025 plans remain unclear, a leaked February 27th Pokemon Presents event may shed more light on the game's future.
