Do you like PokéCoins? Do you not like interacting with Gyms? Trainer, have I got the piece for you. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

TFW You Like Free PokéCoins but You Also Don't Like Gyms

Scopely doesn't appear to be coming for PokéCoins in Gyms, but it's worth considering and discussing how else we could earn them.

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A day late on this, but a terrificly in-depth examination of the complicated legacy of #PokemonGO by Kenneth Shepard. I'm quoted in the piece as well, which is chock full of insights from players of the game. Highly recommended read.

i’m just ken@shepardcdr.bsky.social · 6d ago

new column in which i talked to pokémon go players about the highs and low of a cultural phenomenon that gotten a lot harder to swallow in the past ten years

IDK that #PokemonGO encouraging one to find wonder in the world is necessarily the sexiest topic, but views are kind of low regardless. For subscribers, please let me know if you didn't get a notification or email. That said, enjoy, and thanks for the support. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

On Pokémon GO, Wonder, and Lessons Learned

PoGO in 2016? Magical. PoGO in 2026? Littered with enticement to do Raids and paywalls.

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Did you enjoy Pokémon GO Fest? Do you care that Scopely orchestrated an invite-only Raid in Times Square? I have my opinions, but I'm curious as to others’ feelings on these matters. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

A Tale of Two Pokémon GO Fests

What made for one of the best annual celebrations in recent memory is tarnished by a combination of bad vibes and worse decision-making.

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Owing to it being Global GO Fest weekend, I'll once again take the opportunity to take an off week, so here's another reminder to read the latest post if you haven't yet. If you're playing, have fun. If you're not playing, well, you're probably fine. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

"If You’re Not Playing, You’re Probably Fine"

When avid Pokémon GO players are skipping events or quitting outright, your engagement strategies might need recalculating.

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Feeling patriotic? Enthusiastic about Pokémon GO? Yeah, me neither. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

"If You’re Not Playing, You’re Probably Fine"

When avid Pokémon GO players are skipping events or quitting outright, your engagement strategies might need recalculating.

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The new PvP battle system in Pokémon GO isn't ready for competition-level play, but Scopely is rolling it out anyway. Standard operating procedure for this game, really. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

Pokémon GO Trainer Battle Update—LOL What?

Not ready for competitive play? Season already started? Sure—why not!

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Happy belated Father's Day to the proud papas out there. Rest assured there is dad humor to be found within the latest from The PoGO Journal. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Choose Your Path, or, "Hey, You Try Making Pokémon GO Fun!"

With non-events like these, why not just run actual events?

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Is there something worse than military drones to which Niantic can apply our data? Like, I'm genuinely asking here. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

On the Niantic-Vantor Partnership: From Pokémon GO Scans to Military Drones

What players unwittingly helped create with their uploads has only worsened over time.

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Pokémon GO 2, coming to a mobile device near you hopefully never. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Nobody Wants a Sequel to Pokémon GO

And if they do, they should have their head examined.

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Memories in Motion. Forever Forward. Pokémon GO wants us to believe we're going somewhere. Why, then, does it feel like we're going nowhere fast? open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Memories in Motion. Forever Forward. But Where Are We Going?

Who are "we," anyway?

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“Jason2890 pointed out a flaw in the rating system, and got suspended instead of thanked. Indeed, no good deed goes unpunished, and the types of players Niantic/Scopely should be upholding as models get forced out for making the dev team look bad.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO

He Pointed Out a Flaw in the GBL Rating System—So Pokémon GO Banned Him

Unranked season? Submitted through the proper channels? Evidently, that means you're to be made an example of.

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“I can find no redeeming qualities in Spring Marathon. Niantic, Scopely, whoever is listening, don't ever run this event back. Throw the whole damn thing out.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

I Hate the Spring Marathon Event

"Hate" is a strong word. I stand by it.

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“I get it—PokéCoins aren't a very sexy reward. But for me and for players like myself, they're a breath of fresh air. To the whales complaining about their inclusion in GO Passes, let us have this. You'll have your fancy doodads and thingamajigs back in no time.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

My Favorite GO Pass Reward is PokéCoins—Don't @ Me

For non-spenders, PokéCoins as a reward is a direct influx of "cash" which allows for more full-fledged participation in the game.

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Remote Trades and other minor improvements don't negate the misuse of player data, paywalling new content, and a lack of ambition in several aspects of the game. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

"Pokémon GO Keeps Getting Better." Does It, Though?

Remote Trades and other minor improvements don't negate the misuse of player data, paywalling new content, and a lack of ambition in several aspects of the game.

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“Play! Pokémon may believe they've closed the book on Orlando, but they've opened the door for all kinds of negativity when Pokémon GO has done enough to sow the seeds of discontent. Firestar's ‘loss’ is a loss for everyone involved.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Play! Pokémon Finally Broke Their Silence—and They Somehow Made Things Worse

When you can’t fully trust the product you're seeing, it's hard to build a following or even preserve the fanbase you have.

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Is Pokémon GO playing to in-game nostalgia leading up to its 10th anniversary? Making up for past blunders? Catching up lapsed players? Out of better ideas? Yes. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Pokémon GO is Replaying Events. Good? Bad? Indifferent?

Your answer might have everything to do with how frequent these repeats are.

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I wrote about the controversial ending to the recent Orlando regional championship. If you'd like to voice your support for Firestar73, please visit the Play! Pokémon support ticket site: support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/req... pogojournal.substack.com/p/justice-fo... #JusticeForFirestar #PokemonGO

Justice for Firestar

L for Play! Pokémon.

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Not enough free time this weekend, so alas, no new post this week on The PoGO Journal. I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Easter, however, and I hope to see you next weekend with a new piece.

Earth to Pokémon GO: stop tinkering with features that aren't broken and fix the actual things that are. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Bring Back Spotlight Hour

Either that or give us a reason you took it away.

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“Niantic has been incredibly transparent about its use of our data in its terms of service.” This and other dumb takes await you in the latest installment of The PoGO Journal. 🤦‍♂️ open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

On Dumb Takes about the Niantic-Coco Partnership

Hard to believe we're still caping for Niantic in 2026, but here we are.

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Step 1: Order delivery. Step 2: Rescue delivery robot which got hung up on a fence along the way. That's what I call progress! open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Niantic’s Latest Partner: Delivery Robots

More AI-powered solutions to problems that human labor is perfectly capable of solving? Thanks—I hate it!

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I saw this arrangement of letters in Spelling Bee today. The first thought I had was "CRADILY," and the next thought I had was that Pokémon has just completely ruined my brain for anything other than Pokémon.

Hell is other people? No, Trainers, Hell is an unending herd of Helioptiles. pogojournal.substack.com/p/the-road-t... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

The Road to Pokémon GO Hell Is Paved with Helioptiles

"L'infer, c'est Galvaran." — Jean-Paul Dartrix

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Fresh off celebrating my own two-year anniversary, I want to give loyal reader and content creator @kevkage.bsky.social another plug on the heels of his reaching two years of his YT channel. Please check out this excellent video essay and support another small creator. youtu.be/6rKXJqe8YPY?...

Can Epic Universe SAVE the Theme Park Experience?

YouTube video by Kev Kage Needs a Life

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Will Memories in Motion be a memorable season? Probably not, but let's keep our fingers crossed just in case. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

Memories in Motion: What’s in a Name?

No, seriously—why is it called that?

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Two years later, we've accumulated 100 posts about Pokémon GO on the The PoGO Journal. Thanks to everyone who has supported my work, and kudos to all the Trainers who are still grinding out those kms. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

100 Posts and 10 Years in, Reflections on the State of Pokémon GO

Improvements on the competitive side breed optimism, but monetization practices that punish rural players blunt that enthusiasm.

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Seems elementary that the featured Pokémon for a given Raid Day should appear in at least a majority of Gyms, but here we are. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

Well, I Wasn't Enamored with Therian Forme Enamorus Raid Day

It's hard to enjoy an event when the featured Pokémon is almost nowhere to be found.

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Championship Points for a mode of play that's clearly not ready for primetime? What could go wrong? 🫠 open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

Championship Points for GO Battle League? But the Game is Broken!

CP in GBL incentivizes leaderboard pushing but doesn't address performance issues, cheating, and an overall lack of incentives.

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I haven't been promoting my work the way I should the past few weeks. It's honestly been a depressing start to 2026. Here's hoping for a more encouraging month of February. Remember to take care of yourselves, Trainers. #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

Don't Go to Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos—Los Angeles

Whoops—America is doing a bit of a fascism right now!

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