'Pokémon GO' Ad Expansion: Is Niantic Introducing More Ads After Scopely Acquisition?

"Pokémon GO" has been a favorite among fans since its release, but recent events could force some players to uninstall the game or at least stay away temporarily.

Niantic's communication director, Mark Van Lommel said that the firm has no intention of adding "intrusive ads" to the game. New discoveries by dataminers, however, indicate otherwise.

With Niantic's recent acquisition by mobile gaming giant Scopely, most fans are worried that ad expansion will be the new meta of the day.

Niantic Vows No Invasive Ads in 'Pokémon GO'

'Pokémon GO' Ad Expansion: Is Niantic Introducing More Ads After

In an interview with ScreenRant, Lommel spoke to rumors of possible ads in "Pokémon GO," assuring fans that the code update merely included a list of ad networks, not ad frameworks. This is a common practice in the industry, Van Lommel said, and does not mean any plans to alter how "Pokémon GO" approaches advertising. He stressed that intrusive ads will not be added "now or ever."

'Pokémon GO' Datamine Indicates Broader Ad Rollout

In contradiction to Niantic's denials, recent data mine research by The Pokemod Group indicates possible upcoming changes. This group, specializing in revealing undercover features and changes in "Pokémon GO," found coding that indicates that the game will soon support well over a dozen new ad platforms. They mention GoogleAdMob, Admost, ChartBoost, Yandex, and so on.

While this finding does not affirm a short-term boost in ad frequency, it does trigger fears that "Pokémon GO" will follow the pattern of other Scopely-owned games, like "Monopoly Go," which widely profit off ads as a revenue stream.

Is Pokémon GO Headed Toward A Subscription Model?

With the addition of several new ad sources, fans are wondering if Niantic will eventually add a premium subscription service to eliminate ads. This would be a practice similar to that of other mobile games, where ads are used as a force to drive players into paid subscriptions.

After Scopely acquired Niantic for $3.5 billion, both companies guaranteed fans that "Pokémon GO" and other Niantic games would be community-driven and untouched.

But not everyone is sure. Worries are increasing that the rise in ad sources is a stepping stone to launching premium accounts with ad-free experiences. This would fit Scopely's business model, which tends to prioritize monetization in the form of ads and in-app purchases.

Existing fans of "Pokémon GO" have questioned where the game might be headed next. Many are already in the process of relocating their Pokémon to Pokémon Home, fearing what changes will ultimately be made to the core of the game.

The concern is that Niantic's other games, "Monster Hunter Now" and "Pikmin Bloom," will follow suit under Scopely's ownership in similar ad-sponsored overhauls.