Pokémon Company warns it could block online play for users trading modified Pokémon
Players who do it unintentionally won’t be affected, it claims
The Pokémon Company has threatened to block online access to its games for players caught deliberately trading modified Pokémon.
In a new statement on the Pokémon website titled ‘Response to users using illegally modified data’, the company has stated that players found to be trading modified data could be suspended from the main Pokémon games or some of its storage services like Pokémon Home.
“We have confirmed that some users have been playing the Pokémon series and Pokémon Home with illegally modified data,” the statement reads.
“Unauthorised modification of data can cause problems with operation of the software and applications.
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“We will take the following actions against users who are causing inconvenience to other users, such as those who exchange modified Pokémon, or those whose actions are considered inappropriate from an operational standpoint.”
According to the statement, measures that could be taken against those found to be trading modified data include:
- restricting online play for the Pokémon series
- restricting the use of the exchange function in the mobile version of Pokémon Home
- suspending a player’s use of the Switch and mobile versions of Pokémon Home
- restricting the use of Pokémon Bank to move Pokémon to Pokémon Home
The company said these restrictions will either be limited or indefinite, depending on its discretion, and it won’t refund any “usage fees” (such as the monthly cost for a Pokémon Home Premium plan) for anyone suspended.
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Because some players can receive modified Pokémon in trades and then send it on to other players without realising they’re modified, The Pokémon Company also noted that it will only take action against players found to be trading modified data deliberately.
“Please be assured that no restrictions will be placed on users who unintentionally have altered data, such as those who received the data in an exchange or exchanged altered data without their knowledge”, it explained.
The next main game in the Pokémon series, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, will be released for Nintendo Switch on November 18.
