That particular change was met with overwhelming negativity by Pokémon Go players, many of whom praised the mobile game’s increased distance interactivity as a game-changing quality-of-life update when it was added last year.
Niantic plans to start instituting its post-pandemic gameplay alterations sometime after this year’s Pokémon Go Fest, which runs July 17-18.
On online petition asking Niantic to keep the increased PokéStop and Gym interaction distance is approaching 75,000 signatures.
That means players will have to get closer to real-world locations in order spin Photo Discs (to earn items) and battle in Gyms.