Niantic Finally Releases Pokémon Go Game In Russia And Belarus

Photo: Following in the footsteps of other gaming companies, Niantic withdraws Pokemon Go in Russia and Belarus (Photo: Pokemon Go Twitter)

JAKARTA - Pokemon Go developer Niantic responded to a request from Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov to ask the game company to stop operating in Russia and Belarus last week.

In this regard, Niantic has finally announced that they will withdraw the game Pokémon Go in Russia and Belarus due to the recent war.

"We stand with the global community in hoping for peace and a speedy resolution of the violence and suffering in Ukraine," Niantic wrote in a statement on Twitter, March 11.

Niantic also said that Pokemon Go downloads have been disabled in the region. In addition, they will also suspend the gameplay soon.

The move was taken by Niantic amid many game companies' decisions to suspend their business or services in these countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine late last month.

We stand with the global community in hoping for peace and a rapid resolution to the violence and suffering in Ukraine. Niantic's games are no longer available for download in Russia and Belarus, and gameplay will also be suspended there shortly.

— Niantic (@NianticLabs) March 11, 2022

Previously, Sony had suspended sales of games and consoles in Russia. Microsoft has also stopped all sales in the country.

Last weekend, Nintendo joined others to stop selling digital games on the eShop, and recently they announced they are stopping shipping products including the Switch to the country.

Meanwhile, other game companies including Epic, Ubisoft, CD Projekt Red, EA have also stopped selling their games entirely in Russia.

To date, it is unclear how long the suspension of Niantic's services in the region will last.