There’s no doubt that it’s been an unpredictable and challenging year. I’ve been inspired by the commitment of my fellow Niantics to bring players the best experiences possible, to foster social connection among players, and allow them to engage each other safely. It’s been an incredibly eventful summer, with a record-setting Pokémon GO Fest, new game features and updates across all our games, and the recent launch of the Niantic Planet Scale AR Alliance. Our teams across the globe have been working hard to adapt to the new normal and bring these experiences to life - all while working remotely.

Through this period, we also recognize the importance of the health and well-being of our employees. This is a challenging situation for a lot of people, and it’s more important than ever to invest in our mental health and wellness. To that end, we’re giving our employees the week of September 7 off to recharge, disconnect, and take time to care for themselves and loved ones. Taking this extra time off will help our teams rest and reset, and bring everyone more great experiences upon our return.

To support players during this time, we will have limited operations staff continuing to work - and we’re happy to share that we’ll be providing those Niantics with equivalent paid time off later in the year.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this week. You might see our events and channels much quieter than normal, and that’s by design. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon.

–Maria Weaver, Chief People Officer