The update gives players new customization options to choose from, but many players are furious with the changes.
As part of its Rediscover Pokemon Go 2024 campaign, Niantic, the developer of Pokemon Go, overhauled Pokemon Go’s avatar system with the goal of allowing players to better personalize their in-game characters.
For instance, this update adds new hairstyles for players to choose from, as well as sliders that allow players to customize their avatar’s weight, chest size, hip size, shoulder width, and muscles.
As pointed out by users on Reddit and Twitter, this update removed the ability for players to select a gender for their in-game avatar. Instead, the game’s previous male and female character models have been replaced by a single character model that every player can customize. This means players can mix-and-match clothing and accessory items that are considered traditionally female or traditionally male to personalize the appearance of their avatar.
Now that players have had a chance to view their new avatars, the community’s reaction has been overwhelmingly negative (linked content contains adult language). For instance, some players have complained about the new character model’s skewed proportions, which include an elongated torso and oversized hands. Others are upset that the new character model appears neither male nor female, resulting in “male” avatars that appear to have cleavage and “female” avatars without traditionally feminine “curves.” Some players have even said they will stop playing the game altogether because of these changes.
Whether Niantic will listen to player feedback about this avatar update and implement the community’s requested changes remains to be seen. Keep checking back with SuperParent, as we’ll let you know if Niantic acknowledges the community’s complaints and if any changes are made to the new avatars in Pokemon Go.
Are you happy with your avatar’s new look in Pokemon Go? Let us know on Twitter at @superparenthq.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
