Modifying location data on Apple devices to falsely represent the player’s geographic position within the augmented reality game allows users to interact with the game from locations they are not physically present in. This often involves third-party applications or modified versions of the game client installed on the operating system, bypassing the built-in GPS functionality. For example, a user in New York could virtually appear to be in Tokyo, enabling interaction with location-specific game elements exclusive to that region.
The capability provides accessibility to features and content unavailable to players in their actual location. This can include rare Pokmon spawns, raid events, or specific landmarks. Historically, it has been driven by the desire to bypass geographic restrictions, accelerate game progress, and enhance the overall gaming experience, though this comes with the possibility of account penalties.