Pokémon GO charges different prices for the same box – that’s how Niantic explains it

The lock module box in the Pokémon GO shop costs 3 to 4 euros more for some players than for other players. But at first there was no explanation. Now there are statements from the developers.

This is the controversy: A few days ago you can find a bundle with different lock modules in the Pokémon GO shop called the “lock module box”. Trainers quickly noticed: For some, the box costs 350 coins (around € 3.50), for others the box costs up to 700 coins (around € 7). The community initially assumed an error, but more and more players with different prices came forward.

Niantic was silent about it for days. Now they say that they did it on purpose and didn’t want to disclose anything about it at first.

Lock module box with different prices for different players

This is the box: You can find the box in the Pokémon GO shop under the “For a short time only” tab. This includes

• A rain lock module
• A magnet lock module
• A moss-lock module
• A glacier lure module

What prices are there for the box? It’s unusual for players to pay different prices for the same box in Pokémon GO. It is known that there are different prices for tickets and coin purchases, depending on whether you buy in the Samsung Galaxy Store or via Google Play. Such huge differences as with the lock module boxes were not known.

on reddit asks user VolksDK on December 6th, how many coins the lock module boxes cost the players. Over 600 people respond in the comments and quote the following prices for the same lock module box with the same content:

• 350 coins
• 400 coins
• 450 coins
• 500 coins
• 550 coins
• 600 coins
• 650 coins
• 700 coins

Players tried to figure out a pattern, but the prizes seem to be randomly selected. Sometimes players who live in the same household have different prices. So it doesn’t depend on the region.

“I think the price difference is coincidental. They only test to see how many boxes are being sold at what prices. I will get my price [650 Münzen] do not pay. At 350 I might have bought ”.

Many players in the community shared the idea that Niantic would carry out this action for testing purposes, to see for what price such a box is still interesting for players.

These statements are available from Niantic

That is new: On December 9th, two accounts connected to Niantic reported on Twitter.

• YouTuber Zyonik writes (via twitter.com): “Niantic told me that they brought the Lockmodul boxes with different prices as a test to improve the gaming experience. It was decided not to announce it because that could have falsified the results. “
• The Twitter account “GOStadiumPvP” writes (via twitter.com): “Update from Niantic on the price differences for lock module boxes. For this particular test, the team ultimately chose to keep it quiet as widespread knowledge of the test could affect the results. They are aware of the annoyance this creates in the community and will seriously consider the feedback when it comes to improving transparency and communication ”

This is how the players react: Niantic’s explanations are really badly received by the community. Mainly because the Pokémon GO team was criticized a few minutes ago and then promised to act more transparently and communicate better.

• “Didn’t you promise to act more transparently at the end of the summer? Uff, ”writes ChartreuseMage reddit
• “Wait, you have chosen to * keep it quiet as widespread knowledge of the test could affect the results”. Do you think the gaming community is as bad at communicating as you are? And that we don’t have internet? ”Asks GhostHarvester reddit.
• Makeshift95 writes on Twitter (via Twitter.com): “I understand the experiment and that you want to try the limits. But at a time when the community is pissed off that the Dragon’s Rise event is putting players in front of pay walls. I don’t know if that was the best time to hide it from the players ”

Just before Christmas, such a controversial decision is a big topic in the community. Many players now hope that Niantic will apologize for this experiment and put a good, free box in the shop. Others believe this is just the beginning and the developers are planning further experiments of this type.

The kite event is currently causing mixed feelings among trainers. Many celebrate the new Pokémon Shardrago, but the low dragon spawns and hiding in raids cause trouble.