Home Gaming Niantic removes legendary Pokémon from Pokémon GO cheaters

Niantic removes legendary Pokémon from Pokémon GO cheaters

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Articuno removed from cheating Pokemon Go players 2

If you’re still avidly following all the ins and outs of Pokémon GO, a surprise arrival in Ohio earlier this week might have piqued your interest. Articuno, one of the three mythical birds that represent Team Mystic in the game, was suddenly atop a gym in the area, making everyone question whether Niantic had secretly added some new Pokémon. The alternative was that players were simply cheating (which is already rampant in the game), and it seems Niantic agree.

In a statement sent to IGN (via Kotaku) addressing the issue after dedicated players flocked to Ohio in the hopes of catching their own Articuno, Niantic detailed how some accounts managed to gain access to legendary Pokémon accidentally. The studio has already removed these from accounts affected, but didn’t delve into any other information regarding when we might catch them for ourselves. Legally, of course.

We recently noticed that a few Legendary Pokémon got into a few accounts when they shouldn’t have, To preserve the game’s integrity and as a measure of fairness, we have rectified the situation and revoked the legendary Pokémon from the Trainers’ accounts.

Articuno appeared suddenly thanks to a trainer named Kaitlyn Covey. She claimed that Niantic had personally gifted her the mythical bird as an apology for having issues with the game – which already sounds absurd given the thousands of issues millions of players have had globally. In a futile attempt to prove that they had obtained the Pokémon legally and not through shady hacks, the Coveys even posted a picture of an email Niantic had sent them before gifting them Articuno…

…which then misspelt the name to Articundo.

Articuno removed from cheating Pokemon Go players

Niantic also stated in a separate interview with Geek that they had never gifted any players with rare (and unobtainable Pokémon) as an apology, and have no plans to do so. Which makes perfect sense, especially if you want all players to be on a level playing field at all times. Nevermind that said mythical bird wouldn’t be all that rare if Niantic was handing out freebies for every support ticket they received.

For now Pokémon like Articuno, Zapdos and Mew will remain enigmas. Just like Ditto before them.

Last Updated: August 4, 2016

25 Comments

  1. Kromas GG

    August 4, 2016 at 12:14

    Too much Pokemon …. it needs to stop …. give us some important news like Mass Effect Andromeda suprise launch next week or Gearbox finally apologizes for Alien:CM or Trump bans Pokemon Go. 🙂

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      August 4, 2016 at 12:17

      Well New York is trying to ban sex offenders from playing pokemon GO XD

      Reply

      • Kromas GG

        August 4, 2016 at 12:20

        Free Candy … scratch that
        Free Wifi … scratch that

        FREE POKEMON!

        Reply

        • HairyEwok

          August 4, 2016 at 12:23

          Sex offenders will start making their homes Pokestops XD Come get your pokeballs right here.

          Reply

          • Kromas GG

            August 4, 2016 at 12:26

            Yep …. a whole new level of creepy.

          • Original Heretic

            August 4, 2016 at 12:31

            Yeah, touching children is wrong.

            Except their hearts. You’re allowed to touch their hearts.

            And I mean figuratively, not literally, cause that’d also be wrong.

          • Spy Master Tokashi

            August 4, 2016 at 12:32

            Sex offenders use the Eevee Candy as a lure to go to pokestops.

            “Hey, I have found a way to get Eevee Candy at this pokestop, come with me in my car and I will show you”

            new way of using candy!

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      August 4, 2016 at 12:26

      *launch
      Kaitlyn is that you?

      Reply

      • Kromas GG

        August 4, 2016 at 12:29

        Yes my love? 😛

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

          August 4, 2016 at 12:38

          XD

          Reply

  2. HairyEwok

    August 4, 2016 at 12:15

    Yes indeed, Niantic will send you an ultra rare Articun(d)o for your ultra common Pidgeot. Makes perfect sense.

    Reply

  3. Matthew Holliday

    August 4, 2016 at 12:20

    These cheaters are driving me nuts, we have a GPS spoofer in the neighbourhood, who has placed 2500cp pokemon in about 10 nearby gyms.
    This has been going on for about a week, and Im out of potions now, so i cant even fight back.

    I, mad.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief - Check

      August 4, 2016 at 12:34

      Invite him outside, for….attitude readjustment therapy

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief - Check

        August 4, 2016 at 12:34

        ART, geddit?

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          August 4, 2016 at 13:23

          Coincidently, “art” is also what I would call the mess you’d find on the pavement when Im done with him.
          Typical Valour players

          Reply

    • Ottokie

      August 4, 2016 at 12:34

      Yup, the CP in some of these gyms are just off the charts for SA players.

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        August 4, 2016 at 12:38

        I could believe the CPs, I mean, Im working up to a 1800ish Arcanine and gyarados atm, but when you watch gyms fall faster than I can drive… yeah…

        Reply

    • Raptor Rants

      August 4, 2016 at 13:01

      Same here. Work gym falls daily and has a 2000cp dragonite in it. Then as it falls I see the Monte casino one fall to the same guy. Then another about a block away. I can see all 3 and all 3 belong to the same person and get taken far too quick to be real

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        August 4, 2016 at 13:25

        It really grinds my gears

        Reply

  4. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    August 4, 2016 at 12:25

    How to be the perfect asshole:
    1. Cheat at a game
    2. Lie about an email
    3. Misspell the name of the thing you fraudulently acquired
    4. Have your husband pose for a selfie
    5. Sue Niantic(If they haven’t already)

    Reply

    • Vulcha

      August 4, 2016 at 21:01

      About number 4: notice that the finger on the screen conveniently covers the e-mail address.

      Reply

  5. Ottokie

    August 4, 2016 at 12:32

    HA! I saw an Articuno in a screenshot on the SA Pokemon Go discord somewhere at V&A waterfront. This idiot is lying so bad xD

    Reply

  6. DragonSpirit009

    August 4, 2016 at 12:39

    Well with all these cheats and stuff it just makes me want to drop the game. But I still want to play. But I think I’m going to wait till it comes out!

    Reply

  7. Gavin Mannion

    August 4, 2016 at 13:52

    Cheating in Pokemon Go is probably the most pathetic thing I could think off in gaming..

    Reply

  8. Mr S

    August 4, 2016 at 22:38

    Actually, they weren’t cheating. It was a glitch in the game, and Niantic revoked the Pokemon, but still kept them on the Pokedex if they were caught, and gave the affected users extra Pokeballs and crap. Get your facts straight.

    Reply

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