Pokemon Go Updates Will Be More Respectful to Real-World Places

Pokemon Go started rolling out a couple weeks ago, and many real-world locations have seen an influx of traffic. This is because they've been marked as Gyms or PokeStops, and many of these places want the ability to opt out.

In an interview with the LA Times, The Pokemon Company's J.C. Smith said that it's working on new features that are "appealing to the fans but also respectful of the private institutions that are affected by it." There's currently an option to request the removal of a PokeStop or Gym, but it's not an instant solution.

"When something is really popular, we have to figure out the most respectful way to deal with it and make sure that everyone is playing safely and doing things in a respectful manner," Smith said. "It's only been two weeks since it launched, and there's been so much attention and so many people playing that it's tough to think of all the ways it could affect the world."

One place that has had its PokeStop removed is the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Other locations that have asked for a removal include the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Arlington National Cemetery. A Massachusetts man's home was also marked as a Gym, and he hopes he'll be able to move it at some point.

"It's been a lot of fun, but I think it's a good idea to try and get the gym moved," he said. "It turns out there's a great park right across the street from my house. A simple fix may be nudging the coordinates a few degrees and then everyone's happier. The neighborhood keeps the gym, and I get a little more privacy."

Pokemon Go has seen massive popularity over the past couple weeks, but both Nintendo and the Pokemon Company say they won't change their business plans because of it.

"We don't need to directly tie anything to Go for it to benefit our fans or the brand as a whole," Smith told the LA Times. "In the end, the characters are the same. Pikachu in our animated series or Pikachu in our upcoming Legendary film or Pikachu in Go are all the same."

For more Pokemon Go stories from around the world, check out GameSpot's news roundup.