This is the controversy: Since a few days you can find in the store of Pokémon GO a bundle with different lock modules, which is called “Lock Module Box”. Trainers quickly noticed: For some, the box costs 350 coins (so about €3.50), for others, the box costs up to 700 coins (so about €7). The community initially assumed it was a mistake, but more and more players came forward with different prices.

For days, Niantic remained silent about it. Now they say that they did it on purpose and didn’t want to announce anything about it for now.

Lock module box with different prizes for different players

This is the box: In the Pokémon GO store, you can find the box under the “For a limited time only” tab. Included are

• A rain lock module
• One magnetic lock module
• One moss lock module
• A glacier lock module

What are the prices for the box? It is 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 from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play. However, such huge differences as with the lock module boxes were not known.

On reddit, user VolksDK asks on December 6 how many coins the Lock Module boxes cost among players. Over 600 people responded in the comments, naming 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

In the process, players tried to figure out a pattern, but the prices seem to be randomly selected. In some cases, players who live in the same household have different prices. So it does not depend on the region.

“I think the price differences are random. They’re just testing to see how many boxes are sold at what prices. I will set my price [650 Münzen] not pay. At 350 I might have bought”.

The idea that Niantic is running this promotion for testing, to see for what price such a box is still interesting for players, shared many players in the community.

There are these statements from Niantic

This is new: On December 9, two accounts connected with Niantic came forward on Twitter.

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

Here’s how players are reacting: Niantic’s explanations are going down really badly in the community. Especially because the Pokémon GO team was already criticized a few minutes ago and then promised to act more transparently and communicate better.

• “Didn’t they promise to act more transparently at the end of summer? Whew,” writes ChartreuseMage on reddit.
• “Wait, they decided to *keep quiet about it because widespread knowledge of the test could affect the results’. Do they think the gaming community is as bad at communicating as they are? And, that we don’t have internet?” asks GhostHarvester on reddit.
• On Twitter, makeshift95 writes (via Twitter.com): “I understand the experiment and that they want to test the limits. But at a time when the community is pissed that the dragon climb event is putting players in front of pay walls. I don’t know if that was the best time and to keep it from the players”

Especially, just before the Christmas – Season , such a controversial decision is a big topic in the community. Many players are now hoping that Niantic will apologize for this experiment and put a good free box in the store. Others believe that this is just the beginning and that the developers are planning more experiments of this kind.

Right now, moreover, the Dragon event is causing mixed feelings among trainers. Many are celebrating the new Pokémon Shardrago, but the low dragon spawns and hiding in raids are causing trouble.