Pokemon Go is available in well over 30 countries already, including major markets such as the US, the UK, Canada and Germany. But Pokemon fans in France have yet to receive the app officially, and there’s an official explanation for Niantic and Nintendo’s decision not to launch the highly popular mobile game in this major market yet.
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According to IGN France, The Pokemon Company said that Pokemon Go has been delayed in the country as a sign of respect for the French people in light of the recent tragedy that struck the country.
“As a sign of respect for the French people in this time of national mourning, the release of Pokémon GO is postponed. Our thoughts and prayers are with France and the victims affected by this terrible attack,” The Pokemon Company said.
Local press and blogs speculated that the Pokemon Go delay was related to the massacre in Nice, VentureBeat reports. Furthermore, some claimed that the game would remain unavailable for the duration of the heightened state of security, but that won’t be the case. The game could be released this week as soon as the official period of national mourning ends, or anywhere from Tuesday to Thursday, IGN says.
Niantic plans to launch Pokemon Go in as many as 200 different markets. In other words, Pokemon Go should be released everywhere Ingress was available. However, a gradual rollout is needed for logistical reasons. Niantic has to make sure its servers don’t buckle under the weight of the increasing number of players — sadly, network problems still hinder the overall Pokemon Go experience.
