The Pokémon Company International has announced that Snapchat, the popular image messaging and multimedia mobile application, will have a special Pikachu Lens for a limited time. Snapchat Lenses allow users to add real-time special effects and sounds, in this case with Pikachu's ears and cheeks as the effect. Snapchat is available for Apple iOS and Google Android devices.

Take Pikachu Portraits on Snapchat

A cool Pikachu Lens will be available on Snapchat for only a limited time.

Add the look of Pikachu when you take your next Snapchat selfie with a special Pokémon Lens! Pikachu's ears, nose, and bright-red cheeks will appear over your smiling face when you use this Lens. Then, you can open your mouth to call on Pikachu to join you in the photo! If your device's sound is turned on, you'll hear Pikachu's iconic voice as it jumps onto the screen and strikes a pose. Snap the perfect portrait of you and the famous Pokémon to share!

The Pikachu Lens will be available to Snapchat account holders for only a short while, so get your fill of Pikachu photos while you can. And remember, you must be 13 or older to have a Snapchat account.

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/take-pikachu-portraits-on-snapchat/

Niantic has announced that Pokémon GO has been updated to version 0.69.1 for Android and 1.39.1 for iOS and that the previously announced Pokémon GO Safari Zone Events in Europe have been postponed.

An update on the upcoming Pokémon GO Safari Zone Events in Europe

Trainers, In order to guarantee the best possible gameplay experience for European Trainers, we have decided to postpone the events in Europe scheduled for August 5 (Copenhagen and Prague) and August 12 (Stockholm and Amsterdam) until a date later in the Fall. No other scheduled events are affected including the event scheduled for Yokohama, Japan on August 14 and the events scheduled for September 16 in France, Spain, and Germany.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you understand that our priority is to ensure a great experience for Pokémon GO Trainers in Europe and around the world. Trainers that might have questions regarding the Safari Zone events should visit the help center.

As a special surprise, we understand that some Pokémon that are rarely seen in Europe will be appearing soon in certain European cities for a brief time. Keep your eyes peeled!

Stay tuned for more information, we will update you as soon as we have the new dates.

Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/safarizoneupdate

Pokémon GO updated to version 0.69.1 for Android and 1.39.1 for iOS

Trainers, Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.69.1 for Android and 1.39.1 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

• Spark has returned to appraise Pokémon for Team Instinct Trainers.
• Resolved a motivation decay bug impacting Pokémon with less than 3000 CP.
• Resolved a bug causing Pokémon GO to freeze after consuming potions too quickly.
• Resolved a bug causing Pokémon GO to freeze after all 6 Pokémon faint during a Raid Battle.
• Resolved an issue causing iPhone 6 devices to crash.

Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/ver-update-072817

Niantic has announced Pokémon GO Adventure Week 2017 which will take place from May 18th, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. PDT until May 25th, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. PDT. Pokémon GO was also updated to version 0.63.1 for Android and 1.33.1 for iOS.

Adventures Await!

Trainers, Back in December, we collectively walked past the equivalent distance of Earth to Pluto and now, we’re on a journey past the edge of the solar system! As of May 11, the Pokémon GO community has traveled more than 15.8 billion kilometers, and more adventures still await…

Pokémon GO was developed for people to easily experience classic Pokémon gameplay on their mobile device and catch Pokémon in the real world. As a result, every day, people around the globe go outside, explore the world around them, make some new memories, and get some exercise along the way. We’d love to honor the memories created so far, and our collective journey yet to come, with the Pokémon GO Adventure Week celebration from 1:00 P.M. PDT on May 18 to 1:00 P.M. PDT on May 25, 2017.

To help you stock up for your upcoming adventure, more items will be awarded from every PokéStop you visit, and Poké Balls will be 50% off in the in-game shop. Your Buddy Pokémon is also in the adventuring spirit and will find Candies four times as fast for the duration of the celebration. Whether you’re exploring your neighborhood or an exotic new location, make sure to watch for Rock-type Pokémon such as Omanyte, Kabuto, and their Evolutions. Keep an eye out—maybe you’ll even spot Aerodactyl!

Last but not least, you'll notice an all-new avatar item has been added to your wardrobe—the Expedition Hat! Once Adventure Week begins, grab your new hat and head out on your journey.

We’re excited to see where Pokémon GO takes you this week. Document your journey with the Pokémon GO AR camera, post your photos on social media using #PokemonGO, and we’ll share some of our favorites on the new Pokémon GO Instagram channel! As you embark on your adventures, remember to always be alert and aware of your surroundings when playing Pokémon GO and be respectful of the communities and locations in which you play.

Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/adventureweek2017

Pokémon GO updated to version 0.63.1 for Android and 1.33.1 for iOS

Trainers, Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.63.1 for Android and 1.33.1 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

• Added Brazilian Portuguese language support.
• Tapping on a medal will now show your progress toward the next medal tier.

Niantic has posted the patch notes for Pokémon GO which has been updated to version 0.61.0 for Android and 1.31.0 for iOS.

Pokémon GO updated to version 0.61.0 for Android and 1.31.0 for iOS

Trainers, Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.61.0 for Android and 1.31.0 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

• Added Traditional Chinese language support.
• Updated the Pokémon collection screen scroll bar.
• Various bug fixes.
• Minor text fixes.

Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/ver-update-040617

Niantic has announced a special Water Festival for Pokémon GO that will take place from March 22nd, 2017 until March 29th, 2017. Full details were announced in their press release.

Make a Splash, Trainers!

Trainers, Get ready to make some waves in Pokémon GO! There’s a global Water Festival in progress, and Magikarp, Squirtle, Totodile, and friends are looking forward to celebrating with you! Starting today at 1 P.M. PDT, you’ll be more likely to encounter Magikarp, Squirtle, Totodile, and their Evolutions all around the world. Additionally, when you’re out exploring areas where Water-type Pokémon more commonly appear, you’ll have a greater chance to encounter several of the Water-type Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region, and maybe... you might even encounter Lapras.

Also, starting later today, you’ll notice a new avatar wardrobe item—the Magikarp Hat!

The Pokémon GO Water Festival is a limited-time celebration and will come to an end on March 29, 2017, at 1 P.M. PDT, so get outside and GO catch some Water-type Pokémon!

Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/waterfestival2017

The Pokémon Company International has announced the Pokémon Day 2017 festivities for the United States. It should be an exciting day for all fans of the franchise. It was also revealed that a new line of Pokémon Gallery Figures will be heading exclusively to the United States Pokémon Center website on Pokémon Day. A special Pikachu will also be appearing in Pokémon Go wearing a party hat to celebrate Pokémon Day.

Celebrate Pokémon Day on February 27

Pokémon Day is February 27, commemorating the launch of the very first Pokémon games in Japan way back in 1996. To celebrate the milestone, several events and promotions are planned, leading up through the big day! The fun starts at the #PokemonDay social hub, where we will be updating a gallery of your Pokémon photo memories. Use the hashtag #PokemonDay to share your best Pokémon moments.

• Pikachu is ready to lead the Pokémon Day celebration in Pokémon GO. From February 26 at 1:00 p.m. PST to March 6 at 1:00 p.m. PST, any Pikachu you encounter in the wild will be wearing a festive party hat! The Pikachu you catch during that time will keep its party hat forever, so be sure to look for this special Pikachu during its short time in the wild.
• Pokémon Day marks the debut of the new Gallery Figures collection in the Pokémon Center. The first set includes awesome figures of Eevee, Mew, Magikarp, and Pikachu—each performing its signature attack. These figures were designed specifically for the Pokémon Center, so this is the first time anyone will be able to get their hands on them.
• Starting on Pokémon Day, revisit some of the best big-screen moments of Ash and his friends with a movie marathon on Pokémon TV. For a limited time, watch the original classic Pokémon: The First Movie, as well as Pokémon 4Ever and Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions in their entirety. Remember that you can watch Pokémon TV here on Pokemon.com and on the Pokémon TV mobile apps. But these movies will be available for only a limited time, so don't miss them!
• The Pokémon Trading Card Game Online is starting its Pokémon Day festivities early, with extra Trainer Tokens available on the Bonus Wheel for the entire week leading up to Pokémon Day. Then, be sure to log in to your game on Pokémon Day for an extra-special Daily Bonus. Remember that you can play the Pokémon TCG Online on your computer, iPad, or Android tablet. Battle today and through Pokémon Day for bigger rewards!
• Don't forget that right now you can head to your local participating GameStop store to get a Bottle Cap for your Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon video game. This item lets you boost the individual strength of one of your Pokémon's stats via Hyper Training, making the Pokémon even more ready for your next big battle! Bottle Cap codes will be available at GameStop until March 5.
• Pikachu lends its brilliant features to the new Pikachu Yellow Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL. This limited-edition New Nintendo 3DS XL is launching just a couple of days before Pokémon Day, and it's sure to be popular, so check it out while you can. Visit the product page on Nintendo.com for more details.
• If you're looking for even more Pokémon animation fun for your Pokémon Day celebrations, you can find Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel on the iTunes Store, Google Play, and Amazon Video on February 27. Plus, check out a special Pokémon the Series: Gold & Silver TV episode bundle featuring Ash's adventures throughout the Johto region. With this collection of episodes and the latest Pokémon movie, you'll be ready to host the perfect Pokémon Day party!
• Pokémon Day is a good reminder that big promotions are going on in Pokémon Shuffle, too. The popular Nintendo 3DS game is celebrating two years of challenging fans with puzzle fun. Take a look at the in-game notifications to get more details on these upcoming opportunities.
• Head to Twitch.tv/Pokemon for an all-day celebration of Pokémon competitions, showing many of the most memorable matches from the Pokémon TCG, video games, and Pokkén Tournament from the past several years. See your favorite players from around the globe as we broadcast epic Championship battles, including some from recent Pokémon World Championships.

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/celebrate-pokemon-day-on-february-27/

Pikachu Parties in Pokémon GO!

Keep your eye out for a special Pikachu wearing a party hat to celebrate Pokémon Day! Pikachu is ready to lead the Pokémon Day celebration in Pokémon GO. From February 26 at 1:00 p.m. PST to March 6 at 1:00 p.m. PST, any Pikachu you encounter in the wild will be wearing a festive party hat! The Pikachu you catch during that time will keep its party hat forever, so be sure to look for this special Pikachu during its short time in the wild.

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/pikachu-parties-in-pokemon-go/

Put Your Favorite Pokémon on Display

The new Gallery Figures collection launches in the Pokémon Center on Pokémon Day.

Pokémon fans will definitely want to take a look at the new Gallery Figures collection coming to the Pokémon Center on Pokémon Day, February 27. These high-quality figures were created for the Pokémon Center in the United States, meaning this is the first time they have ever been available anywhere in the world.

The first four Gallery Figures depict some well-known Pokémon as they perform an attack: Mew using Psychic, Eevee using Swift, Magikarp using Splash, and Pikachu using its iconic Thunderbolt attack. Each figure is mounted on the same size base, making it easy to put them on display. Plus, this is only the first set of Gallery Figures planned for launch in the Pokémon Center—check back throughout the year for details on upcoming collectibles.

Check out the Pokémon Gallery Figures collection on February 27 in the Pokémon Center!

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/put-your-favorite-pokemon-on-display/

A new Pokémon app for Apple iOS and Android has been announced and it is called Splash! Magikarp (はねろ！コイキング). The app is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2017 and it is being developed by SELECT BUTTON inc. A website has launched for the app but only teaser information was posted.


Source: http://www.apppokemon.com/koiking/

Niantic has posted the patch notes for Pokémon GO which has been updated to version 0.57.2 for Android and 1.27.2 for iOS.

Pokémon GO updated to version 0.57.2 for Android and 1.27.2 for iOS

Trainers, Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.57.2 for Android and 1.27.2 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

• Over 80 additional Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region can be caught.
• Gender-specific variations of select Pokémon can be caught.
• Added new encounter mechanics.
• Added Poké Ball and Berry selection carousels to the encounter screen.
• Added two new Berries.
• Added new avatar outfit and accessory options.
• Added new night-mode map and encounter music.
• Added bonus Candies for catching Evolved Pokémon.
• Implemented Apple Watch connection stability improvement.
• Various bug fixes.
• Minor text fixes.

Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/ver-update-021617

According to a new report from the app analytics company Sensor Tower, Pokémon GO has surpassed $1 billion in worldwide gross revenue on the App Store and Google Play combined. Pokémon GO has become the fastest mobile game in the history of the app stores to reach this milestone.

The chart below shows the cumulative gross revenue for Pokémon GO’s first seven months of availability and compares to the app Clash Royale which was also released in 2016.


Source: https://sensortower.com/blog/pokemon-go-one-billion-revenue

Niantic has announced the latest patch notes for Pokémon GO which updates the game to version 0.55.0 for Android and 1.25.0 for iOS.

Pokémon GO updated to version 0.55.0 for Android and 1.25.0 for iOS

Trainers, Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.55.0 for Android and 1.25.0 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

• Reduced the starting load time on Android devices.
• Resolved Android connectivity issues for the Pokémon GO Plus accessory.
• Integrated iOS wheelchair support for use with Apple Watch.
• Minor text fixes.

Source: http://pokemongolive.com/en/post/ver-update-012817/