Niantic
Is it a glitch, an ominous warning, a message from Team Rocket, or some weird threat? Pokemon Go players aren’t sure how to react after getting an ominous notification from Pokemon Go on their phones that just says “R.” After two tweets from Pokemon Go that also included the letter R and shadowy images, it’s definitely intentional. And now there’s a countdown video for Saturday night. Here’s what we know so far about it and what players are saying.
UPDATE: Scroll to the end of this story to see what happened when the countdown ran out on the live stream.
Pokemon Go Has Been Sending Notifications that Just Say ‘R’
Pokemon Go sent out a notification today that just said “R” and was accompanied by an image for some players. Then the game also tweeted the letter R along with a shadowy image that just shows the capital letter.
One person wrote: “I just got a notification from Pokémon Go that just says R Are they alright???”
Another wrote: “pokemon go sending a notification that just says “R” is the most f***ing ominous thing theyve done.” [sic]
pokemon go sending a notification that just says “R” is the most fucking ominous thing theyve done
The notification literally just said “R” and nothing else.
For most people, the notification simply looked like this:
Niantic
If you didn’t have notifications on, you would have missed the crucial announcement.
@PokemonGoApp why did i just get a notification saying “R”
People in some regions were already getting a ton of notifications because of the Team Rocket invasion. But the “R” notification was just … odd.
Tweets, Plus Some Notifications, Had Images Attached
The funny thing is that Pokemon Go tweeted the letter “R” too, so that’s making players think it might be intentional.
If you lighten the image, it looks like a dark capital R with 7/28 next to it. This must be indicating that something involving Team Rocket is happening in two days.
Maybe it’s just short for Respect?
@PokemonGoApp E S P E C T
However, the image looked like a little different for others. This image was shared by u/WizrdLizrd1 on Reddit and it showed the silhouette of a person with the letter R notification. Some said this version of the notification was more likely to show up on Android and it was a shadowy picture of Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket.
Lightened it looks like this. (This photo was shared by u/Tomernator on Reddit.)
Reddit/Tomernator
Most people said they didn’t get an image, just the letter “R,” or they saw the tweet that included a shadowy image of the letter R.
Players aren’t sure what to think of the notification, but most are saying that it’s a reference to Team Rocket’s arrival and something that’s going to happen on July 28, in two days. Just yesterday, Team Rocket invaded Pokemon Go and a new Special Research request accompanied their arrival.
Two Years Ago, Niantic Responded to a Support Request By Just Saying ‘R’ After 35 Days
Some players who’ve been around since the beginning remember that a long time ago, Niantic replied to a support request by just saying “R” and then closed the case. Some players are wondering if this is an inside joke referencing that moment. Here’s a look at that response, shared originally by u/MistaWhiska on Reddit two years ago:
Today’s Notifications Are Likely Referencing a Mysterious Event on July 28
Most likely, this is referencing a mysterious event on July 28 involving Team Rocket that players will want to watch for.
Pokemon Go doubled down with another R tweet, so now we can say it’s definitely intentional. This one showed shadowy figures of two people with the 7/28 date included.
Brightened, it looks like this:
Niantic
These tweets and notifications happened after trainers in New York City defeated Team Go Rocket and contained their spread, so this must be indicating that their threat isn’t over and something involving Team Rocket will be happening on July 28.
Phew! It looks like Trainers in New York City have done a great job defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and have contained the spread of Team GO Rocket. 🗽 ✅ Keep battling. We thank you for your hard work! 😄👍
Now They Have a Countdown Video
Although the tweets and notifications referenced July 28, a YouTube video is counting down to the evening of July 27.
When the Countdown Ended, Team Rocket Took Over
The countdown itself didn’t show anything – the live stream simply ended, leaving viewers confused. But a lot happened on Pokemon Go’s official Twitter account. It has changed and is now owned by Team Go Rocket.
I’m going to guess this is the video we should have seen:
It looks like Team Rocket is going to take over ALL Pokestops between 4-5 p.m. local time.
SUP, TWERPS! 👋 While all of you were distracted with the little stunt that we pulled in New York, we mobilized our forces for a GLOBAL TEAM GO ROCKET INVASION! From 4 to 5 p.m. in your local time, we’ll be taking over ALL the PokéStops in your area. Teehee. 🙃 #TeamGORocket
Before making this announcement, the following tweets were shared:
For three years we have been watching. The world of Pokémon GO is rife with unlimited resources. This privilege is wasted on Trainers like you who lack the vision to exploit this vast world of resources and Pokémon.
You walk around and spin your PokéStops like this is some kind of game. You battle in your Gyms and rejoice when they change colors. You care for Pokémon as though they’re something more than tools! What a waste of potential!
We’ve brought our Shadow Pokémon, strengthened to unimaginable levels that you could never reach through powering up alone. We’re here to take over your PokéStops and steal from their unlimited supply of resources. Can’t you see the beauty of our evil?
This is just the beginning. Your resources are our resources. Your Pokémon are our Pokémon. Your world is our world! You can’t stop us. Professor Willow, Spark, Blanche, Candela, and most of all, you—stay out of our way!
We follow the villainous path of those before us—and we will succeed in finally bringing Giovanni’s vision to the world! If you insist on trying to disrupt our plans, we will make you feel a world of pain! – Team GO Rocket
This is a developing story.
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Pokemon Go Sends a Weird ‘R’ Notification with Possible Giovanni Picture