The inability to support certain older mobile devices became a reality for players of the popular augmented reality game. This shift involved ceasing support for devices operating on a 32-bit Android architecture. An example of this would be a user with a phone running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) on a processor that only supports 32-bit instructions being unable to launch and play the game after a specific update.
This change, while potentially frustrating for affected users, allowed developers to streamline their efforts by focusing on the more modern and capable 64-bit architecture. This focus can lead to performance improvements, enhanced security features, and access to a wider range of functionalities offered by current Android operating systems. This action also aligns with the broader industry trend of phasing out older technologies to facilitate innovation and efficiency.