Pokémon Go’s large week of finally raising the game’s level cap got off to a bad start.
This morning saw the launch of the game’s first weekly challenge, a modern feature that requires fans to form a group of four players to catch 500 creatures this week in exchange for rewards. However, the modern gameplay feature was withdrawn after just a few hours as enthusiastic fans who had achieved the goal quickly reported that their games suddenly “stuck” and became unresponsive.
Even after disabling the feature, Pokémon Go players affected by the bug say they are still unable to play – suggesting that a more significant fix needs to be implemented now. And all this comes less than 48 hours before Pokémon Go’s massive Level 80 update goes live – something fans now fear could end up being delayed.
In statement In a post to the game’s Niantic support account for X on
“As we investigate the issue, we have temporarily disabled the weekly challenge feature,” the message continued. “We will provide an update soon.”
On Reddit the best Pokémon fans Dear Silphfans who have completed the weekly challenge say they are “completely deprived” of the ability to play, as loading the game still causes the weekly challenge screen to reopen, which then blocks everything else.
“I tried to open the game on an old Android tablet and managed to close the page using the Android back button,” wrote a Gerkenator fan. “But it comes back every time I open the game.”
Others say they have tried deleting and reinstalling the game, but to no avail. “They really said Pokémon Go would do something different,” Klecktacular noted.
As Pokémon Go’s developer investigates the issue, fans are concerned about the impact this latest issue will have on the game’s seismic leveling update, which is currently scheduled for release on Wednesday, October 15.
As previously announced, this update will balance XP across the game and escalate the level cap from level 50 to level 80 for the first time in five years. New leveling challenges and rewards will be added, and others will be removed. Existing player levels will also change to accommodate the modern, smoother leveling curve – and many are expected to escalate automatically.
However, with less than 48 hours left and an emergency fix to the game’s Weekly Challenge feature now appears to be required, it remains to be seen whether the major XP update will also arrive as planned.
“This bodes absolutely well for the level update coming this week,” aznknight613 wrote. “Meanwhile, Level 80 updates arrive in New Zealand in… 27 hours…” Brock_Hard_Canuck noted.
We will monitor developments and update information as more becomes available.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s news editor. You can contact Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
