Google is removing popular features from Fitbit smartwatches ^↺

As 9to5Google seemingly first reported, Google has removed four features from the Fitbit app. Effective March 27, Google announced the move over a month ago, although it may have gone largely unnoticed. For one, Google has disabled the option of competing for challenges with family and friends. Unusually, the feature has gone with no direct replacement.

Additionally, Adventure Races has shut down, which allowed people to compete against friends in virtual races. Likewise, Solo Adventures have been canned, as have Virtual Premium Challenges. For reference, the former provided a virtual tour of real-life locations, while the latter provided bonus active minutes and Active Zone Minutes during challenges. Accordingly, trophies earned for completing challenges are no longer accessible.

The Fitbit app has lost access to open groups too, which allowed people to connect and share progress publicly. Now, invite-only private groups are the only in-app method of sharing progress with friends. Purportedly, these features have been removed to make way for a proliferation of more Google services and technology within the Fitbit app throughout 2023. Streamlining the Fitbit app has proven unpopular so far though, particularly as Google has not rolled the outgoing features into those that are remaining. 

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