Hello Explorers,
As most of you know, Niantic Labs is being acquired by Scopely, and it’s spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc. Scopely acquired Niantic’s game business including Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter Now, and Wayfarer.
Niantic Spatial has acquired Ingress and Peridot.
This FAQ will address some of the frequently asked questions we have been seeing in the Wayfarer Community regarding the transition. Though we do not have a concrete answer to some of the questions asked, we think it’s important to be as transparent as possible as to what to expect in the near future.
Question: When is this transition actually taking place?
Because a transition like this involves multiple factors, some outside of our control (such as regulatory review), we don’t have an exact date for the transition. That being said, we want to reassure you that it will be taking place very soon. Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure the process is completed promptly. We are fully dedicated to making this a smooth and seamless transition with minimal disruptions.
Question: What does this mean for me?
If you have access to Wayfarer now through your Ingress account, you will continue to have access to Wayfarer (and the forum), even if your game account in Pokemon GO is not Wayfarer eligible. You will continue to be able to review and see your previous contributions.
Question: What does the transition mean for Wayfarer and the maps for Pokémon GO and Ingress?
The Pokémon GO map will continue to be synced with Wayfarer post the transition. The Ingress map will stop syncing with Wayfarer once the transition is complete. Niantic Spatial is building its own system for Ingress. More information will be available on the official Ingress website at a later date.
Question: If I do not play Pokemon GO, will my reviews count?
If you have access to Wayfarer now, your future reviews will count even if you do not have a Wayfarer eligible Pokémon GO account. Contributions that are approved in Wayfarer after the split will only be available in Niantic Scopely games.
Question: Will Wayfarer nomination, review, acceptance, or takedown criteria change after the transition? What about the forum?
There are no immediate plans to change the criteria as a result of the transition. Also, there are no plans to make any changes to the forum for the foreseeable future.
Question: Will the submissions appeals process change at all?
No, the submission appeals process will remain unchanged.
Question: Will enforcement of abuse remain the same in both Niantic Spatial and Scopely products? How about banned users, will they remain banned across Niantic Spatial and Scopely products?
Yes, enforcement of abuse will remain intact across Niantic Spatial and Scopely products. Permanently banned users will stay banned across all relevant products. This includes Wayfarer and Wayfarer suspensions that resulted in product suspensions.
Question: As the database for Pokémon GO and Ingress get separated, would users need to nominate Wayspots on both the Niantic Spatial side and Niantic Scopely side?
If the user wants their submission to be considered for both Pokémon GO AND Ingress, they will need to submit nominations separately through both Wayfarer and Niantic Spatial (Ingress). If the user only wants their submission considered for Niantic Scopely games, they only need to nominate Wayspots on Niantic Scopely side (currently via Pokemon Go); If the user want their submission to be considered only for Ingress, they only need to submit for Niantic Spatial (via Ingress)
Question: What happens to Ingress players after the transition?
Ingress accounts will retain their ability to perform reviews and view their past contributions on Wayfarer after the transition. Ingress players who currently have a Wayfarer account will continue to have full access to Wayfarer and the Wayfarer forum.
Question: What is the cutoff date in which the Ingress map will not sync with Wayfarer anymore?
The exact cutoff date for Ingress map syncing has not been determined yet. We encourage all Ingress users to release their nominations currently ON HOLD to ensure they have enough time to be resolved and sync to the map before the transition. We will share more details as soon as they are available. Please stay tuned to the forum for updates!
Question: If I play both Ingress and Pokémon GO and choose to delete my Pokémon GO account after the transition, will I lose access to Wayfarer?
It’s important to consider several situations as it will apply differently to many in our community; Wayfarer accounts linked to Pokémon GO only, Ingress only Wayfarer accounts, and those accounts linked to both Pokémon GO and Ingress. Post transition,
- Pokémon GO Only Wayfarer Account: If you choose to delete your Pokémon GO account and your Wayfarer account is linked to that Pokémon GO account only, your Wayfarer account will also be deleted as a result.
- Both Pokémon GO and Ingress Wayfarer Account: If you choose to delete your Pokémon GO account and your Wayfarer access is linked to both a Pokémon GO and Ingress account, your Wayfarer account will also be deleted as a result.
- Ingress Only Wayfarer Account: If you have both an Ingress and Pokémon Go account and your Wayfarer account is only associated with the Ingress account, not linked to a Pokémon GO account, and you choose to delete your Pokémon GO account, your Wayfarer account will remain intact.
Question: Will anything happen to my Wayfarer Forum access if I delete my game account?
If your Wayfarer account is deleted as a result of your game deletion request, your forum access will also be revoked.
Question: What will happen to the Wayfarer related badges I have in Ingress?
All Wayfarer-related badges will persist in your Ingress account.
Question: Will remote submission distance be changed or increased for Pokémon GO (from 10km to 25km)?
There are no current plans to change the distance for submissions. However, we are always listening to our community and continuously evaluating ways to improve the gameplay experience. Our dedicated team is committed to ensuring that Pokémon GO and Wayfarer remain engaging and enjoyable for all players.
Question: Will the Wayfarer team still have direct input into the forum to answer questions?
Absolutely, the Wayfarer team remains fully engaged with the forum. They are committed to staying informed about all questions, feedback, and activities from the community. Their ongoing involvement ensures that they continuously use the forum as a valuable tool to gather insights and improve the product. This dedication helps us maintain open lines of communication and support for our users, thereby fostering an active and collaborative Wayfarer community.
Question: Does the transition open up the possibility of Wayfarer (and Wayfarer Challenges) in other Niantic Scopely games?
We assess Wayfarer eligibility and access via all Niantic Scopely games based on community and business needs regularly, we are continually exploring opportunities to enhance the experiences across our games. We encourage you to stay tuned for updates as the transition progresses.
Thanks again for all of your patience during this transition. We’re incredibly excited to continue supporting our Explorers and further engaging with our community. Join the conversation here!
-The Wayfarer Team