Discover how Pokemon Go’s soundtrack quality is deteriorating through repeated audio compression with each update
Introduction: The Unheard Deterioration
A dedicated Pokemon historian has uncovered a troubling trend where Pokemon Go’s musical elements are systematically degrading through cumulative audio compression applied during routine game updates.
Recent investigations reveal that Niantic’s update process involves repeated compression of sound files, progressively diminishing the quality of Pokemon Go’s soundtrack and potentially erasing original compositions.
While media preservation challenges commonly affect aging entertainment franchises, Pokemon Go presents a unique case where original content deteriorates incrementally rather than disappearing suddenly. This gradual degradation makes the problem less noticeable to casual players but more damaging to long-term preservation.
The audio experience in Pokemon Go has consistently faced criticism from the player community, ranging from overly sharp interface sounds to monotonous background scoring. However, few players recognize that these auditory elements aren’t just annoying—they’re actively worsening in technical quality with each application update.
The Discovery: Lewtwo’s Preservation Mission
Content creator and Pokemon historian Lewtwo (known professionally as Lewis) dedicated substantial effort throughout 2022 to cataloging and preserving digital assets from the expansive Pokemon universe. Through coordinated community collaboration, his team has assembled extensive archives containing high-resolution concept artwork, game sprites, and rare digital resources previously inaccessible to the public.
Their current preservation initiative focuses specifically on rescuing the musical contributions of composer Junichi Masuda from potential digital oblivion. This endeavor has uncovered the systematic compression affecting Pokemon Go’s audio landscape.
Pokemon GO’s actual soundtrack is quickly becoming lost media.
With every update Niantic compresses the previous music, and we need help in preserving it. pic.twitter.com/Ptxzv03ZW2
Lewis formally documented his findings through a detailed Twitter thread published on November 7. His initial demonstration featured comparative audio clips of Pokemon Go’s encounter theme—contrasting the rich, detailed original version against the current compressed iteration’s noticeably flatter, less dynamic presentation.
“The authentic Pokemon GO soundtrack is rapidly approaching lost media status,” Lewis stated. “Niantic’s update protocol involves recompressing existing music files with each release, creating an urgent need for preservation efforts. We’re witnessing the real-time erosion of Junichi Masuda’s contemporary musical legacy.”
Compression Evidence: Audio Quality Decline
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Additional examples vividly illustrate how compression algorithms are degrading Pokemon Go’s audio landscape. Lewis presented comparative file analysis for the evolution sound effect, revealing that the original 2016 version occupied 463.4 KB of storage, while the current iteration has been reduced to a mere 53.29 KB—representing nearly 90% size reduction through aggressive compression.
this is fucking unreal lmao what did they mean by this pic.twitter.com/aDqnsHJEyC
For audiophiles and preservationists, these compression ratios raise significant concerns. Audio compression at this level typically eliminates high-frequency content, reduces dynamic range, and introduces audible artifacts that diminish the listening experience. The technical degradation is most noticeable through high-quality headphones, where lost subtleties and added distortion become apparent.
Developer’s Dilemma: Storage vs. Quality
The compression strategy likely represents Niantic’s practical response to mobile storage constraints. As Pokemon Go continues adding features, characters, and gameplay elements, application size management becomes increasingly critical for maintaining accessibility across diverse mobile devices with limited storage capacity.
However, this storage optimization comes at the expense of artistic integrity and audio fidelity. The progressive compression effectively dismantles the nuanced work of composer Junichi Masuda, transforming richly layered compositions into flattened, simplified versions that lose their original character and emotional impact.
Alternative technical solutions do exist, such as implementing optional high-quality audio downloads, using more efficient compression codecs, or offering sound quality settings that allow users to choose between storage space and audio fidelity. These approaches would preserve the original artistic vision while maintaining practical application size limits.
Preservation Strategies and Future Outlook
Fortunately, the Pokemon community has mobilized to support Lewis’s archival mission. Enthusiasts are employing various preservation techniques, including extracting audio files from older application versions, creating comprehensive digital archives, and documenting the progressive changes through detailed analysis and comparison.
This situation raises important questions about the future auditory experience of Pokemon Go. If current compression trends continue unchecked, players may eventually encounter severely degraded soundscapes lacking the richness and variety that characterized the original release. The cumulative effect of repeated compression cycles could render the soundtrack virtually unrecognizable compared to its initial form.
For players concerned about audio quality, practical steps include backing up older application versions, supporting community preservation initiatives, and providing feedback to developers about the importance of audio fidelity. These collective efforts may help preserve Pokemon Go’s musical heritage for future generations of players and historians.
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