"Pokemon Go," Niantic's hit AR mobile game, is not without its own set of gameplay issues and server problems. One of the issues that has been prevalent in the game since its initial release on July 6 is the three-step glitch.
What does the glitch/bug do?
Thanks to the three-step glitch, the "nearby" tracking Pokemon is useless. Moreover, players may not be able to catch Pokemon.
This glitch shows Pokemon in the vicinity as always being three-steps (three paw prints) away, no matter how much you walk. So players have to rely on instincts to catch Pokemon.
Does Niantic know about it?
During the recently-held San Diego Comic Con 2016, where Niantic was hosting a Q&A panel, John Hanke was asked about the three-step bug, to which he replied, "We've heard about it on the interwebs," and that the company was "aware of that one."
Is there a fix?
There is no official fix yet and it is being assumed that Niantic is developing one.
What are the unofficial fixes?
Players can try this fix, which some users have claimed is working.
If players experience the glitch, they need to close the app. Next, move near the location of the Pokemon that the app reported, and open it again.
This might refresh the data and thus update a correct one.
Another possible way is by installing the Poke Radar, which uses the game's API to show where a Pokemon spawned. But players will have to be really quick as the Pokemon can disappear within a few minutes.
Is there a timeline to deploy fixes?
Niantic has not given a precise timeline on when it would resolve the issues in the game. So it could deploy the fix when it finds a solution.
Currently, Pokemon Go is available in 38 countries, including the U.S., U.K, Japan, Germany, France and Australia. It is only available on iOS and Android devices. The game has gone viral with over 30 million downloads.
