Pokemon Go players criticize Niantic for hilarious store mistake

Pokemon Go players jokingly reacted after Niantic added a profitable package to the game’s marketplace, only to take it away shortly after.

A Boost Box, originally priced at 399 PokeCoins, was temporarily released on September 3 with a maximum purchase quantity of three. However, as of September 4, it is no longer accessible on the storefront, either having disappeared entirely or displaying the message “This item is no longer available for purchase.”

The contents of the Boost Box were:

Premium Battle Pass x5
Pokemon Storage x1
Super Incubator x5
Item Bag x1

The standard cost for Item Bag and Storage expansions is 200 PokeCoins ($1.98) for comparison.

A package that included both, plus a variety of extras, was available for under 400 coins and was considered a significant bargain. The reason for the removal of this offer is unclear, but players have responded with disapproval, alleging the developer’s lack of skill and greed.

According to one response in a Reddit thread discussing the removal, “It’s almost comical at this point.”The comment went on to say, “It’s as if someone at Niantic HQ saw the positive reception and instantly thought, ‘Oh no, they’re enjoying themselves. We need to get rid of this box right away!’”

The bundle contained multiple lucrative items.

Some believed that Niantic employees may have been rebellious in their actions, arguing, “It seems highly unlikely that this was done on purpose, especially considering the Best Box was already available last year and could only be purchased once.”

Despite the significant discount being offered by the Boost Box, it was widely believed that the listing was a result of carelessness. One person even speculated, “Perhaps an incompetent staff member (NB: legend) mistakenly priced it too low and then corrected the error.”

Despite inquiries, Niantic has not offered any explanation for why the bundle was taken down or if it will be brought back in the future. As some players were able to take advantage of the deal before it disappeared, those who missed out were left feeling disappointed and unfairly excluded.

Since Max Out became available, Pokemon Go has faced further criticism for its monetization. One example is the PokeCoin Bounty event, which ran from September 3 to October 2 and was deemed not worth the effort. To help you determine if it’s worth the cost, we have provided a breakdown of all the included features.