Pokemon Go’s new Routes feature is facing criticism due to its problematic Zygarde Cell collection mechanic, sparking calls for change among the game’s community. Since the introduction of the Routes feature in Pokemon Go, it has been a major point of discussion among players. The Routes feature was designed to enhance the player’s experience by plotting a path where various rewards could be collected. These include a range of Pokemon encounters, items, and most notably Zygarde Cells – which are necessary for changing Zygarde’s form.
The Problem with Zygarde Cell Collection
However, the mechanics of Zygarde Cell collection have become a cause for concern for players. In a post titled “Yet Another Major Issue with Routes,” a trainer highlighted the difficulty of securing a Zygarde Cell during a route journey and described it as a “terrible user experience.” The player notes that while the most effective strategy seems to be slowing down near the end of a route to collect the Zygarde Cell, it is far from guaranteed success due to the common occurrence of the Zygarde Cell appearing for a brief moment and disappearing as soon as the route ends.
Frustration in the Pokemon Go Community
This user experience has caused significant frustration within the Pokemon Go community, with many players questioning the testing process that went into this feature. The main issue lies in Zygarde Cell’s tendency to despawn at the end of a route, leading to missed opportunities to collect these cells. Players have suggested changes to improve gameplay. Suggestions include adjusting the game mechanics to provide a Zygarde Cell as an end-of-route reward or preventing the cell from disappearing as soon as the route ends. Both changes are likely to enhance the Routes experience and make the Zygarde Cell collection process less frustrating and more rewarding.
Other Concerns and Safety Issues
However, not all players encounter problems with Zygarde Cell collection. One player, for example, claims that cells can appear anywhere along the route and advises players not to solely focus on the end of the route. This claim sparked a conversation about the lack of sound or vibration alerts when a cell spawns, another aspect that players believe could use improvements. The Reddit thread also revealed safety concerns. Several users discussed how the current cell collection process forces players to constantly stare at their screens while moving along routes, which can prove to be dangerous, especially in areas with heavy pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Possible Changes on the Horizon
It is unclear whether Niantic will consider these community-suggested changes. However, the growing discussion and continued frustration among users may push the developers to reconsider the feature.





