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Some players went as far as stating they would stop playing Pokémon GO altogether if the changes persisted. The backlash includes detailed critiques about the body types and facial features, illustrating how the updates appear to demean traditional female and male representations in favor of a more "neutral" or even intentionally unflattering aesthetic.
The Ideological Underpinning: Diversity and Inclusion
Niantic's stance on these changes is linked to its corporate mission emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and belonging. The company’s website stresses that these principles are central to their identity and operations, which likely influences their approach to avatar customization.