Since the day of its release, Pokemon Go has been facing multiple issues regarding the game itself and worse, its players. Due to the game's different kind of gameplay, people got easily hooked especially those who are considered as die-hard fans. In line with this, the game has been held responsible for a number of accidents down the road and even the developers are facing lawsuit from someone who claims that it promotes trespassing.
There is nothing new about this series of issues that the game has received. The latest Pokémon Go controversy is that the worldwide hit game has been banned completely in Iran. The High Council of Virtual Spaces was not very precise on their reasons on why they banned the game. According to the post from Game Rant, the High Council appealed that the game has caused 'security concerns' but there is no further explanation about the claim. Rumors are now spreading that Pokémon Go can encourage players to stay up late at night and trespassing concerns are inevitable. Also, people hanging around at the same place for a long time have a big possibility of getting robbed.
Based on the reports from PC Mag, Iran was anticipating a ban last month but the officials were waiting if they could work with the game's creator and come up with an agreement over possible restrictions. Iran may perhaps be the first country to ban Pokémon Go completely but it is not the game's first ban. A recently updated list of activities from correctional department of New York considered parole abuses for sex offenders to include accessing, downloading or otherwise engaging in any internet-based gaming actions which includes Pokémon Go.
Though having a restriction for everyone in the country over a game seems like an overreaction, Iran believes it could pose security concerns. For for the most part, the game simply encourages its players to travel to public places and landmarks which they could visit with or without the game. While some Gyms and PokeStops are popping out on some restricted areas (e.g. Area 51), Niantic is now allowing requests of removal of this PokeStops and gyms which can negate the possibility of trespassing.
The reason of banning Pokemon Go is still questionable, but this is not the first time a video game has been banned in the country, others were Battlefield 3 and ARMA 3. Unfortunately, more possible video games may be banned in the country for years to come.
