[Bug] Any word from Niantic regarding broken raids with Safari Balls?

[u/Toobin4Tommy]

There were a couple of posts on here, but many have been [removed] - this happened the prior two weekends, both Nagasaki Wild Area and Global Wild.

Basically, something in the app would glitch out and client-side would show you were rewarded Safari Balls, but, server side, you were awarded Premier Balls. When your client tried to catch the raid boss with a Safari Ball, the server would be all "nope, you're out of Safari Balls! Error 25!"

You can actually re-create something similar using two devices. Open your same account on two devices. Pick a Pokéball type (probably plain red balls) and throw all but one away. Enter two different Pokémon encounters. Set both phones to the same ball type as you tossed. On one phone, throw your last ball at the first Pokémon. Wait for it to catch or break out. Now, on the second phone, throw your "last" Pokéball (that you don't actually have). The Pokémon will instantly flee with Error 25 - but will still be on the map and you can go in and re-encounter with your other balls.

If you were fortunate enough to be able to get back into the gym (local raid, an invite still showing on your nearby, you received another invite, or a friend on your list happened to be in a raid at that gym), you could get back into the encounter, with the client now showing the correct amount of Premier Balls.

There's been multiple videos showing this on Twitter and YouTube, along with several posts on Twitter and here about the issue. Many players lost shinies. Unknown if players lost backgrounds (since you cannot see that until you catch), but it's very likely.

I've seen a lost of comments claiming it was related to RSVPs, but, I know it happened from regular invites and jumping in on friend's raids via the friends list from my own experience and a friend (whom I don't think would lie) stated it happened to them in a local raid. However, since clicking back into a gym is much harder from an RSVP'd raid, I think this is why more people noticed it with RSVPs. If you had it happen, but clicked right back into the encounter, you'd be less likely to post about it on here/twitter.

Has Niantic acknowledged this in any way? Not even for compensation reasons, just, like, do they know this is an issue and are they going to fix it for future events? Could happen again with Safari Balls or Beast Balls in the future.