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Joe Rattata (he/him)

@joerattata.bsky.social

55 followers 22 following 146 posts

Pokémon GO Substack operator, Twitch Affiliate, and mediocre Pokémon GO PvP player from New Jersey. Run The Jewels evangelist. Word game enthusiast. The mask goes over your nose. pogojournal.substack.com twitch.tv/JoeRattata

Posts Replies Media

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 21h

I feel like I've been running from one thing to the next this week, so I'm just getting to promoting this now. Please enjoy my screed about Pokémon GO failing upwards and people choosing profits over allyship re Harry Potter. pogojournal.substack.com/p/on-pokemon... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

pogojournal.substack.com

On Pokémon, Harry Potter, and Crass Consumerism

Predatory monetization? Creator's a bigot? Shh—just keep buying.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Mega Master League? Uh, no thanks. pogojournal.substack.com/p/master-lea... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

pogojournal.substack.com

Master League Feels Even More Inaccessible with Mega Evolutions

Now with added pay-to-win mechanics!

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

There's still time for Scopely to undo this. pogojournal.substack.com/p/uh-what-ha... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

pogojournal.substack.com

“Uh, What Happened to All the Rocket Balloons?”

Scopely Explore is in charge now, but the baffling decisions continue.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale was not-so-mega fun. My thoughts on why and the impending wave of Mega formats coming to GBL: pogojournal.substack.com/p/more-mega-... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

pogojournal.substack.com

More Mega, More Problems?

Thrusting Mega Evolutions into every nook and cranny of Pokémon GO has genuine implications for individual play.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

We're in the final throes of preparation for a transition to a new ERP system where I work, so sorry this notification is coming just now. Thanks for your patience and support, Trainers. pogojournal.substack.com/p/no-i-dont-... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

pogojournal.substack.com

No, I Don't Think Twilight Trails Will Be Very Good

Where do these trails lead? Mediocrity, probably.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

"Having a CEO with a name other than 'John Hanke' is no longer a defense for a boring, broken product, not that it ever was a good one. The honeymoon phase is over, and all sales are final." #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague pogojournal.substack.com/p/scopelys-h...

pogojournal.substack.com

Scopely’s Honeymoon Phase Is Over

The Niantic Era is gone. It's all on Scopely now.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The Explorer Gadget comes with benefits, but not without its risks and larger implications for Pokémon GO. pogojournal.substack.com/p/no-one-nee... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

pogojournal.substack.com

No One Needs the Explorer Gadget. Should You Want It Anyway?

Is the convenience worth the risks?

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Don't worry, y'all: When Pikachu holding an accordion drops in 2031, it'll be a real game-changer. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Oh, Great—More Pikachu

Events are trash? Game is broken? No worries! Pikachu has a different background now!

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Do you like PokéCoins? Do you not like interacting with Gyms? Trainer, have I got the piece for you. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

TFW You Like Free PokéCoins but You Also Don't Like Gyms

Scopely doesn't appear to be coming for PokéCoins in Gyms, but it's worth considering and discussing how else we could earn them.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

A day late on this, but a terrificly in-depth examination of the complicated legacy of #PokemonGO by Kenneth Shepard. I'm quoted in the piece as well, which is chock full of insights from players of the game. Highly recommended read.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

IDK that #PokemonGO encouraging one to find wonder in the world is necessarily the sexiest topic, but views are kind of low regardless. For subscribers, please let me know if you didn't get a notification or email. That said, enjoy, and thanks for the support. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

open.substack.com

On Pokémon GO, Wonder, and Lessons Learned

PoGO in 2016? Magical. PoGO in 2026? Littered with enticement to do Raids and paywalls.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Did you enjoy Pokémon GO Fest? Do you care that Scopely orchestrated an invite-only Raid in Times Square? I have my opinions, but I'm curious as to others’ feelings on these matters. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

A Tale of Two Pokémon GO Fests

What made for one of the best annual celebrations in recent memory is tarnished by a combination of bad vibes and worse decision-making.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Owing to it being Global GO Fest weekend, I'll once again take the opportunity to take an off week, so here's another reminder to read the latest post if you haven't yet. If you're playing, have fun. If you're not playing, well, you're probably fine. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

open.substack.com

"If You’re Not Playing, You’re Probably Fine"

When avid Pokémon GO players are skipping events or quitting outright, your engagement strategies might need recalculating.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Feeling patriotic? Enthusiastic about Pokémon GO? Yeah, me neither. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

"If You’re Not Playing, You’re Probably Fine"

When avid Pokémon GO players are skipping events or quitting outright, your engagement strategies might need recalculating.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

The new PvP battle system in Pokémon GO isn't ready for competition-level play, but Scopely is rolling it out anyway. Standard operating procedure for this game, really. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

open.substack.com

Pokémon GO Trainer Battle Update—LOL What?

Not ready for competitive play? Season already started? Sure—why not!

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Happy belated Father's Day to the proud papas out there. Rest assured there is dad humor to be found within the latest from The PoGO Journal. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Choose Your Path, or, "Hey, You Try Making Pokémon GO Fun!"

With non-events like these, why not just run actual events?

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Is there something worse than military drones to which Niantic can apply our data? Like, I'm genuinely asking here. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

On the Niantic-Vantor Partnership: From Pokémon GO Scans to Military Drones

What players unwittingly helped create with their uploads has only worsened over time.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Pokémon GO 2, coming to a mobile device near you hopefully never. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Nobody Wants a Sequel to Pokémon GO

And if they do, they should have their head examined.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Memories in Motion. Forever Forward. Pokémon GO wants us to believe we're going somewhere. Why, then, does it feel like we're going nowhere fast? open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Memories in Motion. Forever Forward. But Where Are We Going?

Who are "we," anyway?

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

“Jason2890 pointed out a flaw in the rating system, and got suspended instead of thanked. Indeed, no good deed goes unpunished, and the types of players Niantic/Scopely should be upholding as models get forced out for making the dev team look bad.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO

open.substack.com

He Pointed Out a Flaw in the GBL Rating System—So Pokémon GO Banned Him

Unranked season? Submitted through the proper channels? Evidently, that means you're to be made an example of.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

“I can find no redeeming qualities in Spring Marathon. Niantic, Scopely, whoever is listening, don't ever run this event back. Throw the whole damn thing out.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

I Hate the Spring Marathon Event

"Hate" is a strong word. I stand by it.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

“I get it—PokéCoins aren't a very sexy reward. But for me and for players like myself, they're a breath of fresh air. To the whales complaining about their inclusion in GO Passes, let us have this. You'll have your fancy doodads and thingamajigs back in no time.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

open.substack.com

My Favorite GO Pass Reward is PokéCoins—Don't @ Me

For non-spenders, PokéCoins as a reward is a direct influx of "cash" which allows for more full-fledged participation in the game.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Remote Trades and other minor improvements don't negate the misuse of player data, paywalling new content, and a lack of ambition in several aspects of the game. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

"Pokémon GO Keeps Getting Better." Does It, Though?

Remote Trades and other minor improvements don't negate the misuse of player data, paywalling new content, and a lack of ambition in several aspects of the game.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

“Play! Pokémon may believe they've closed the book on Orlando, but they've opened the door for all kinds of negativity when Pokémon GO has done enough to sow the seeds of discontent. Firestar's ‘loss’ is a loss for everyone involved.” open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Play! Pokémon Finally Broke Their Silence—and They Somehow Made Things Worse

When you can’t fully trust the product you're seeing, it's hard to build a following or even preserve the fanbase you have.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Is Pokémon GO playing to in-game nostalgia leading up to its 10th anniversary? Making up for past blunders? Catching up lapsed players? Out of better ideas? Yes. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Pokémon GO is Replaying Events. Good? Bad? Indifferent?

Your answer might have everything to do with how frequent these repeats are.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I wrote about the controversial ending to the recent Orlando regional championship. If you'd like to voice your support for Firestar73, please visit the Play! Pokémon support ticket site: support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/req... pogojournal.substack.com/p/justice-fo... #JusticeForFirestar #PokemonGO

pogojournal.substack.com

Justice for Firestar

L for Play! Pokémon.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Not enough free time this weekend, so alas, no new post this week on The PoGO Journal. I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Easter, however, and I hope to see you next weekend with a new piece.

It's Buneary! Happy Easter!

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Earth to Pokémon GO: stop tinkering with features that aren't broken and fix the actual things that are. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Bring Back Spotlight Hour

Either that or give us a reason you took it away.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

“Niantic has been incredibly transparent about its use of our data in its terms of service.” This and other dumb takes await you in the latest installment of The PoGO Journal. 🤦‍♂️ open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

On Dumb Takes about the Niantic-Coco Partnership

Hard to believe we're still caping for Niantic in 2026, but here we are.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Step 1: Order delivery. Step 2: Rescue delivery robot which got hung up on a fence along the way. That's what I call progress! open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Niantic’s Latest Partner: Delivery Robots

More AI-powered solutions to problems that human labor is perfectly capable of solving? Thanks—I hate it!

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

I saw this arrangement of letters in Spelling Bee today. The first thought I had was "CRADILY," and the next thought I had was that Pokémon has just completely ruined my brain for anything other than Pokémon.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Hell is other people? No, Trainers, Hell is an unending herd of Helioptiles. pogojournal.substack.com/p/the-road-t... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

pogojournal.substack.com

The Road to Pokémon GO Hell Is Paved with Helioptiles

"L'infer, c'est Galvaran." — Jean-Paul Dartrix

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Fresh off celebrating my own two-year anniversary, I want to give loyal reader and content creator @kevkage.bsky.social another plug on the heels of his reaching two years of his YT channel. Please check out this excellent video essay and support another small creator. youtu.be/6rKXJqe8YPY?...

Can Epic Universe SAVE the Theme Park Experience?

YouTube video by Kev Kage Needs a Life

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Will Memories in Motion be a memorable season? Probably not, but let's keep our fingers crossed just in case. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

open.substack.com

Memories in Motion: What’s in a Name?

No, seriously—why is it called that?

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Two years later, we've accumulated 100 posts about Pokémon GO on the The PoGO Journal. Thanks to everyone who has supported my work, and kudos to all the Trainers who are still grinding out those kms. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

100 Posts and 10 Years in, Reflections on the State of Pokémon GO

Improvements on the competitive side breed optimism, but monetization practices that punish rural players blunt that enthusiasm.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Seems elementary that the featured Pokémon for a given Raid Day should appear in at least a majority of Gyms, but here we are. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Well, I Wasn't Enamored with Therian Forme Enamorus Raid Day

It's hard to enjoy an event when the featured Pokémon is almost nowhere to be found.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Championship Points for a mode of play that's clearly not ready for primetime? What could go wrong? 🫠 open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

open.substack.com

Championship Points for GO Battle League? But the Game is Broken!

CP in GBL incentivizes leaderboard pushing but doesn't address performance issues, cheating, and an overall lack of incentives.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

I haven't been promoting my work the way I should the past few weeks. It's honestly been a depressing start to 2026. Here's hoping for a more encouraging month of February. Remember to take care of yourselves, Trainers. #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

open.substack.com

Don't Go to Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos—Los Angeles

Whoops—America is doing a bit of a fascism right now!

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

ICYMI (highly probable because I apparently couldn't be bothered to share this until now): open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp #GOBattleLeague

open.substack.com

Should You Play Pokémon GO PvP?

It really depends on your level of commitment and your tolerance for pain.

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Happy New Year to my readers and fellow Pokémon GO players! I'm not expecting big things for the game in 2026, but there's a non-zero chance I'm wrong (and I hope I am)! open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

open.substack.com

Outlook for Pokémon GO in 2026? Probably More of the Same

Despite Scopely now being at the helm, not much has changed when the game could use a shake-up.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

I wrote about how financial incentives and the need for journalistic access help make for a Pokémon GO media landscape short on insightful commentary. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Pokémon GO Media is High on Hype, Low on Critical Commentary

Incentive structures for largely flattering coverage while catering to algorithmic preferences yields a lack of engagement with the game's larger issues.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Your boy is sick, so this (late) short post about how the Well Armed event sucks will have to do. Apologies in advance. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Well Armed, Poorly Executed

No new Shiny? An unnecessary Global Challenge? Even more Machops? Sign me up!

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Weekly Challenges are live in Pokémon GO. Depending on how you play, it's an improvement over Party play, though not without its own potential drawbacks. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Pokémon GO’s Cardinal Sin: Playing Alone

"Meet you out there" is not a request, Trainer.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Would be great to have an updated loading screen for the new season. I guess, like Christmas, though, it's still on its way. 🙈 #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

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Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Hope everyone has a great Pikipek Community Day (for real this time). When you're done, please consider liking and subscribing. Thanks. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Time to Not Get Excited about Precious Paths

This season is three months of marking time. The only hope is that the next one will be more engaging.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

I've been sick all weekend, but I wanted to get something short and sweet out, especially after taking off last week. Hope you enjoy, and good luck for Pikipek Community Day if you do take part (I will be staying home). open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Pokémon GO Won a Golden Joystick Award

You're welcome, Scopely.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

If you haven't already read the previous week's offering at The PoGO Journal, the link to check it out is below. Thanks as always for your support. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

On Real-World Discovery in Pokémon GO

In the absence of a strong sense of identity for this game, the team behind it could and probably should play up its capacity for engaging with the world around us.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

I wrote a piece about how Andrew Cuomo sucks. open.substack.com/pub/pogojour...

open.substack.com

Andrew Cuomo Is a Clown

The millionaire backed by Michael Bloomberg and super PAC money is a disgrace to his father's legacy and, in the end, to himself.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

"To the folks who would continue to advocate for gatekeeping content, I'd ask whether they'd rather see the game fail than stray from their idea of what it should be. If yes, perhaps some self-reflection is in order." open.substack.com/pub/pogojour... #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp

open.substack.com

Define "Casual Pokémon GO Player"

Good luck with that, by the way.

Joe Rattata (he/him) @joerattata.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Ngl, for a visual glitch, the colors are pretty dope. #PokemonGO #PokemonGOApp