Millions of users alarmed as Pokémon Go servers crash

Pokémon Go appears to have crashed, leaving millions unable to play the augmented reality game.

Users across Europe and the US have complained they are unable to access the game, or that it is regularly freezing.

Players began to report problems with the game shortly after 2pm. 

The app, developed by Niantic and part-owned by Nintendo, calls on users to move around the real world, overlaying their normal landscape with an augmented reality that projects digital creatures on to the streets around them.

Confirming users’ difficulty accessing the game, Niantic said on its website: “Due to the incredible number of Pokémon GO downloads, some Trainers are experiencing server connectivity issues. Don’t worry, our team is on it!”

According to Reddit, a hacking group called PoodleCorp claimed responsibility for the servers being down.