'Pokémon Go' users lash out after latest update

We may have reached the phase in the Pokémon Go phenomenon where the backlash is taking over.

Game developer Niantic responded Tuesday to players frustrated with a key update to the mobile gaming hit and the Pokémon Go creator's lack of responsiveness to growing concerns.

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game where players capture "pocket monsters" called Pokémon using their smartphones' GPS and cameras. The game is designed to appear as though players are capturing these creatures in the real world.

The game has evolved into a viral sensation since launching on July 6, notching more than 100 million downloads worldwide, according to research firm SensorTower.

Over the weekend, Niantic released an update for Pokémon Go on iOS and Android devices introducing several changes, including fixes to bugs.

Two big changes have left players venting. First, Niantic tweaked the Nearby search feature to remove footprints. When Pokémon Go launched, players could tap a Nearby button to see which creatures were closest to their location. The number of footprints — ranging from 0 to 3 — determined how close players were to a character. In recent weeks, the feature hasn't worked as effectively, displaying every creature with three footprints.

The second change affects mapping, notably third-party services offering tools to help players find the Pokémon they want. One of the more popular mapping tools, Pokévision, says the update forced it to shut down the service.

"While we do want Pokévision to be up, we can't guarantee it and don't want to give false hope," reads a tweet from the account for Pokévision.

Users have taken to Twitter and Reddit to share their angst over the update. On Apple's App Store, Pokémon Go carries a rating of one-and-a-half stars. Players cite the changes as well as Niantic failing to respond to complaints.

In a statement released Tuesday on Facebook, Niantic says it limited third-party services because the quality of the game experience suffered. They also say they are working to improve on the footprint tracking feature.

"We want you to know that we have been working crazy hours to keep the game running as we continue to launch globally," reads a portion of their statement. "If you haven’t heard us tweeting much it’s because we’ve been heads down working on the game."

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.