UK Pokémon GO Streamer “j0beats” Banned for Cheating—But Fans Aren’t Buying It
When a streamer gets banned, people talk. But when the evidence isn’t clear, things get messy.
If you’ve ever spent some time on Pokémon GO Twitch streams, there’s a good chance you’ve seen j0beats. He’s a familiar face in the UK Pokémon GO community. He streams almost every day, heading out across the British streets on foot, catching Pokémon live for his fans.
So, when he got banned for “using modified client software or unauthorized third-party software,” it raised a lot of eyebrows—not just because of the ban, but because nobody saw it coming.
The Ban: Out of Nowhere
On June 8, the streamer’s fans woke up to find his channel flagged. According to Niantic, the maker of Pokémon GO, j0beats allegedly used tools that aren’t allowed. These could be anything from GPS spoofers to automation bots. But here's the thing: nobody’s seen j0beats do anything shady on his streams.
The Reddit post that broke the story is full of confusion. There’s just no solid evidence of any rule-breaking. No fishy gameplay, no hints that he was cheating for views or rewards. And, so far, Niantic hasn’t even reached out to explain themselves. No emails. No public explanation. Just a sudden ban and a vague reason.
Why This Matters
For a streamer, being accused of cheating can tank your reputation. For j0beats, it’s even worse because his whole thing is about playing fair, live, in public. His audience has always seen him catching Pokémon out in the open, phone in hand.
It’s not just about losing access to the game—it’s about fans doubting if they can trust what they see on stream.
If Niantic is making a mistake here, it’s a big one.
So What Could Have Happened?
There are a few possibilities:
- False Positive: Niantic’s anti-cheat system isn’t perfect. Sometimes, even connecting harmless apps or tools can trigger a ban.
- Behind-the-Scenes Errors: Maybe something ran in the background on his phone without him knowing.
- Actual Rule-Breaking: Of course, there’s always a chance that some off-stream activity tripped the wire. Right now, there’s no proof.
But the main thing is: there’s no clear evidence that j0beats cheated. That’s why the ban feels so harsh.
What Now for j0beats?
So far, there hasn’t been word from Niantic’s support. And j0beats is still locked out.
It’s a weird time for streamers and fans. You want to trust the systems that keep games fair, but you also don’t want innocent players caught in the crossfire.
If you’re a streamer, it’s another reminder: even if you’re playing by the book, sometimes the rules can still trip you up. And as a viewer, it’s a lesson in not jumping to conclusions—sometimes the story is less straightforward than it seems.
Pokémon GO drama isn’t new. But this one feels different—because it hinges on trust, not just the rules.