Pokémon Go blocked in PHL, for now

Filipino Pokémon fans will have to wait a bit to be the very best.

Avid Pokémon fans in the Philippines went wild with the release of Pokémon Go, an augmented-reality game developed by Niantic for iOS and Android users.

The game was initially rolled out in Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday, with a Philippine release in the cards somewhere down the line.

But some smart Pinoy fans were able to sidestep the regional block, but it appears that Niantic has since cracked down hard on all extra-regional downloads.

It appears that Niantic swiftly moved to block game access from users not coming from Australia and New Zealand, much to the dismay of Filipino users.

However, Unbox.ph reports that some users are still able to access the game, hinting at the possibility that the supposed block may just be a server issue.

And so the waiting game continues for Filipino Pokémon fans—no exploring through your backyard to find a Charmander, no cruising along the beaches to find Magikarp, and no entering your house with a happy Pikachu awaiting.

At least, not yet. — Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/TJD, GMA News