Pokémon GO Update Alters Player Avatar Appearance

A recent Pokemon GO update introduced a frustrating glitch: players' avatar skin and hair colors are inexplicably changing. This latest issue adds to the already considerable player dissatisfaction with recent avatar modifications.

Niantic's April 17th update, intended to "modernize" avatars, was widely criticized as a visual downgrade. Now, a further update has compounded the problem, with numerous players reporting spontaneous and drastic alterations to their characters' appearance. Some players initially feared account hacking due to the severity of these unexpected changes. One player's post illustrates the dramatic shift: a character with white hair and light skin suddenly appeared with brown hair and dark skin, effectively becoming a completely different character. While a fix is anticipated, Niantic has yet to officially address this issue.

New Pokemon Go Update Alters Avatar Skin and Hair Color

This latest glitch is the most recent development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the April avatar changes. Rumors of a rushed release quickly followed the update, fueled by comparisons between the new, less visually appealing avatars and older models.

Niantic also faced criticism for using the older, preferred avatar models in promotional material for paid clothing items. This marketing tactic was seen by many players as an admission that the new avatars were inferior.

The backlash resulted in a wave of negative reviews on app stores, yet Pokemon GO's ratings remain relatively stable (3.9/5 on the App Store, 4.2/5 on Google Play), demonstrating a surprising resilience despite the controversy.