Niantic's 'Pokemon Go' to go iOS 11-only in late February

By Roger Fingas

As of Feb. 28, people will no longer be able to play Niantic's "Pokemon Go" on devices without iOS 11 -- cutting off access on some older iPhones and iPads.

Affected devices include the iPhone 5 and 5c, and iPads ranging from the iPad 2 through to the fourth-generation model and the original iPad mini. None of those devices can upgrade past iOS 10.

Beyond February, gamers trying to play "Pokemon Go" on that hardware may be unable to use PokeCoins or other Bag items, or even access their accounts, Niantic said. The change will take effect with an upcoming app update expected on Feb. 28.

Recently the game was upgraded with support for ARKit, Apple's augmented reality platform. While there already was an AR mode, ARKit consumes less battery life and allows Pokemon to sit firmly on real-world surfaces with natural lighting. However, that technology does require an iPhone 6s or better.