Nintendo Pulls Zorua From Pokémon GO After CP Transfer Bug Discovered During Spotlight Hour

Niantic, the developer behind the popular mobile app Pokémon GO, temporarily removed Zorua encounters from the game following a significant bug discovered during the Shuppet Spotlight Hour event on October 25, 2022.

This decision came after players in Australia and New Zealand experienced unintended behavior with the surprise Zorua encounter, which was supposed to debut as part of a much-anticipated in-game event. The Shuppet Spotlight Hour, scheduled between 18:00 and 19:00 local time, was initially promoted with hints of a unique experience: players were encouraged to bring their Buddy Pokémon to the event for a special surprise.

That surprise, as revealed to trainers in Australia and New Zealand, was the introduction of Zorua, designed to appear on the game map disguised as the player’s Buddy Pokémon—a creative nod to Zorua’s mythical transformation ability in the mainline Pokémon series available on platforms like the Nintendo Switch. However, a bug surfaced where any caught Zorua would retain the Combat Power (CP), height, and moveset of the Buddy Pokémon it mimicked.

This inconsistency led to instances where some players caught extremely powerful or abnormally large Zorua.

For example, one trainer reported capturing a Zorua with a weight of 750 kilograms and a height of 4.35 meters—well above typical Zorua parameters. According to a statement from Niantic Support, Zorua encounters have been removed from Pokémon GO while the team works to resolve this challenge.

The company expressed regret for any disruption the removal may have caused, stating, “We extend our apologies for the inconvenience and are committed to addressing the issue swiftly.” Any players who managed to catch a Zorua during the affected period will find that some features are restricted; these Zorua cannot be used in competitive Battle League play, sent to Pokémon HOME, or traded with other trainers.

Niantic has yet to provide a specific timeline for when the Zorua encounter will return to Pokémon GO, but reassured the community that no further special surprise events involving Zorua would roll out in other time zones until the issue is resolved. Despite the unfortunate glitch, the Shuppet Spotlight Hour will continue as scheduled.

However, players should not expect the associated Buddy bonuses or special encounters at this time.

Niantic and Nintendo are known for their commitment to quality and gameplay balance, and such prompt action underscores their ongoing priorities for the Pokémon GO community. For further updates on Pokémon GO events, bug fixes, and updates from Niantic and Nintendo, stay tuned to official announcements and your local Nintendo news sources.

Pokémon Nintendo Pokémon GO Australia New Zealand Zorua Shuppet Spotlight Hour Niantic