Niantic is celebrating its 5th anniversary and to help promote it, limited-time bonuses and an exclusive Timed Research will be available on Sunday, October 4th, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.

Celebrate Niantic’s fifth birthday with a special event!

Trainers, Happy birthday, Niantic! In celebration of Niantic’s fifth birthday in just a few days, you’ll be able to enjoy limited-time bonuses and exclusive Timed Research.

Date + Time
Sunday, October 4, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time

Features

• Complete the Niantic Birthday Event Timed Research during the event period to receive an Incense, an Egg Incubator, a Lucky Egg, a Fast TM, a Charged TM, a Star Piece, and more!
• Team GO Rocket Balloons will be appearing more often than usual!

Bonuses

• 2× Lucky Egg duration
• 2× Star Piece duration
• 2× Catch XP
• 2× Hatch XP
• 1/2 Hatch Distance for Eggs placed into Incubators during the event

To kick off the celebrations, a 1 PokéCoin Niantic birthday event box featuring 30 Ultra Balls will be available in the shop from Saturday, October 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, October 5, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. Additionally, be on the lookout for a surprise “party favor” giveaway happening on Niantic’s official channels during the week following Niantic’s birthday!

Celebrate Niantic’s fifth birthday with us! Whether you’ve been playing Niantic games from the very beginning or started with Pokémon GO, there’s much to enjoy during the Niantic birthday event! Let’s GO!

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/niantic-birthday-event-2020/

Niantic has announced that Autumn themed Pokémon will be appearing in the wild and hatching from Eggs, certain Berry effects will be boosted, Berry-themed Field Research and Timed Research will be available, and Deerling will make its Pokémon GO debut! This Autumn 2020 themed event will take place from Friday, October 9th, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. until Monday, October 12th, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time.

Look forward to autumn-themed Pokémon, Berry bonuses, and Deerling coming as the seasons change!

Trainers, Around the world, the seasons change. As the seasons turn, different Pokémon will be appearing in the wild and hatching from Eggs, certain Berry effects will be boosted, Berry-themed Field Research and Timed Research will be available, and Deerling will make its Pokémon GO debut!

Date + Time
Friday, October 9, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Monday, October 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time

Features

• Whether it’s autumn or spring where you are, plants are flourishing all around the world. During this event, Berries will be twice as effective when you give them as treats to your Buddy Pokémon, and you’ll earn twice the usual Candy you normally would when catching a Pokémon that you’ve given a Pinap Berry to. Berries will also be dropping more often when you spin Photo Discs at PokéStops and Gyms, so be sure to harvest a few Berries!
• Pokémon can sense when the seasons change! You can expect to see the following Pokémon appearing more often in the wild: Oddish, Vulpix, Bayleef, Hoothoot, Sudowoodo, Yanma, Pineco, Zigzagoon, Seedot, Shroomish, Plant Cloak Burmy, and Foongus.
• If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Vulpix as originally discovered in Kanto!
• Autumn-themed Pokémon will be hatching from 5 km Eggs.
• Deerling, the Season Pokémon, will be making its Pokémon GO debut! The turning of the seasons changes the color and scent of this Pokémon’s fur. Keep an eye out for its Autumn Form Deerling!

In some parts of the world, the leaves are turning red and the shadows are growing longer! With the transition from a hot summer to a cooler autumn in some places, it looks like there will be a few different Pokémon hatching from Eggs soon. You can look forward to that and other exciting changes from Monday, October 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, October 19, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time.

As the seasons change, it’s good to remember to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. It’s also the perfect time for self-reflection. Who knows? Maybe you’ll realize something new about yourself!

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/autumn-event-2020

The official Pokémon website and Niantic have announced that starting on September 30th, 2020, Pokémon GO Trainers can access a Special Research story where they will be able to encounter Victini.

Complete Special Research Featuring Victini in Pokémon GO

On September 30, 2020, Pokémon GO Trainers can access a Special Research story that’ll let them encounter Victini or earn Victini Candy.

On September 30, 2020, Pokémon GO Trainers will have the opportunity to access a new Special Research assignment courtesy of Professor Willow called Investigate a Mysterious Energy. Completing this research will earn Trainers rewards based on whether they accessed certain research during GO Fest 2020.

Pokémon GO Trainers who have accessed July's exclusive GO Fest 2020: Rocket Straight to Victory Special Research will earn Victini Candy for completing this new Special Research. For Trainers who didn't access the GO Fest 2020: Rocket Straight to Victory Special Research, the reward for completing the new Victini Special Research will be an encounter with Victini!

Get ready to research Victini!

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/complete-special-research-featuring-victini-in-pokemon-go/

Niantic has announced that they will be giving out a limited-time free Remote Raid Pass every Monday from October 5th, 2020 to November 30th, 2020 for players of Pokémon GO.

Enjoy a limited-time free Remote Raid Pass every Monday from October 5 to November 30!

Trainers, Enjoy a limited-time promotion for Remote Raid Passes! From Monday, October 5, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7) to Monday, November 30, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8), there will be a free Remote Raid Pass available every Monday.

Each Remote Raid Pass will be available for only a week, so be sure to check the in-game shop each week to claim that week’s Remote Raid Pass before it’s gone.

As a reminder, you must have fewer than three Remote Raid Passes to claim the weekly free Remote Raid Pass.

With a Remote Raid Pass, you’ll be able to join any Raid Battle you can see in the RAID section of the Nearby screen or that you can tap on the map. Did you know that the faster you win a raid, the more rewards you’ll get? Be sure to battle in raids with your friends so you can win as fast as possible! No matter where your friends are, you can invite them to your raid lobby as long as they have a Remote Raid Pass.

Are you ready to raid with friends? Pick up a Remote Raid Pass, and let’s GO!

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/limitedtime-remoteraidpass

Niantic has announced the details for the October 2020 Community Day which will take place on Saturday, October 17th, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. The voted Pokémon for the month is Charmander.

Charmander will be featured during October Community Day!

Trainers, Thanks for all your efforts campaigning and voting for the Pokémon you wanted to be featured in the September and October Community Day events. We’re thrilled to announce that Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon, will be the featured Pokémon this month! More details about October Community Day can be found below.

Date + Time
Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time

Features

• Charmander will be appearing more frequently in the wild. If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one!
• Evolve Charmeleon (the evolved form of Charmander) during the event or up to two hours afterward to get a Charizard that knows Dragon Breath.
• Take a few snapshots during Community Day for a surprise!
• There’ll be a special one-time-purchase October Community Day Box available for 1,280 PokéCoins, featuring an Elite Charged TM, three Super Incubators, three Star Pieces, and 30 Ultra Balls.
• Complete event-exclusive Timed Research and Field Research tasks to earn Charizard Mega Energy!
• For US$1 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll be able to access the October Community Day–exclusive Special Research story, A Tale of Tails. Rewards for this story will include Charizard Mega Energy.

Stay tuned for when tickets for the A Tale of Tails Special Research story go live! Tickets are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service). Please note that this Special Research will not include an in-game medal.

Bonuses

• 3× Catch Stardust
• Incense activated during the event will last for three hours.

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/communityday-oct20/

Niantic has announced that some of the temporary bonuses for Pokémon GO that were enabled because of COVID-19 will be modified starting on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT.

Updates to temporary bonuses

Trainers, Over the past few months, we’ve been making temporary changes to Pokémon GO to adapt to the changing global environment. Some of these changes will remain implemented for the foreseeable future, such as the ability to raid remotely, changes to the GO Battle League, and the increased distance at which you can spin Photo Discs at Gyms and PokéStops. We thank you for all your feedback.

The following temporary bonuses will remain to improve Pokémon GO’s overall gameplay experience.

• The maximum number of Gifts you can carry in your Item Bag at a time will remain at 20.
• You will continue to receive three times the Stardust and XP for your first Pokémon catch of the day.
• Incense duration will remain at 60 minutes.

When possible, people are generally encouraged to spend time outside, go on walks, and exercise for their mental and physical health—all while social distancing and abiding by other health and safety recommendations. Starting Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), the following temporary bonuses will be modified.

• Hatch Distance will return to normal for Eggs.
• The increased effectiveness of Incense will now apply only while walking.
• Your Buddy Pokémon will now bring you Gifts only when you have nearly run out. This will happen only once per day.
• You will still have a higher chance of getting a Gift when you spin a PokéStop. However, you won’t be guaranteed to get a Gift.

Incubators will be included in more boxes in the in-game shop.

For a summary of active bonuses, keep your eye on the “Special bonuses” section of the Today View! We will continue to monitor these active bonuses and will provide updates as necessary.

Additionally, we’re continuously monitoring the ever-evolving global situation and are working hard to reschedule previously planned live events to 2021. Health and safety are of the utmost importance. Please stay tuned to our official channels for any rescheduling updates.

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/update-20200929/

Niantic has announced a Pokémon GO Special Weekend will take place in Japan in cooperation with 7-Eleven, SoftBank and Matsumotokiyoshi on Saturday, November 7th, 2020 and Sunday, November 8th, 2020.

Pokémon GO Special Weekend - November 2020

Trainers, We're holding a Pokémon GO Special Weekend with official Pokémon GO partners, who always support our trainers! The partners who will be cooperating with us this time are 7-Eleven, SoftBank and Matsumotokiyoshi.

Visit an official partner store near you to obtain a ticket to participate in the event. The event will take place on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2020.

What is the Pokémon GO Special Weekend?
This is an in-game Pokémon GO event that can be redeemed at any Pokémon GO Official Partner store with a Pokémon GO Special Weekend Ticket. A promotion code will be attached to the ticket, so get it before the event date, register the code from the promotion code entry page, and then participate in the event. You can participate in the event from anywhere in Japan. Players must be physically located in Japan to participate.

The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 11am to 2pm. You'll have more chances to meet special Pokémon when you participate in the event than usual.

Event Date

• SoftBank / 7-Eleven: Saturday, November 7, 2020, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Japan time
• Matsumotokiyoshi: Sunday, November 8, 2020, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST

Event Details

• A limited time challenge is now available.
• If you're lucky, you might be able to find alternate-colored Absol and Kucheat!
• You might be able to meet Unown S,B,M,K and many other Pokémon!

Where can I get a ticket for the Pokémon GO Special Weekend? Depending on the Official Partner from whom you obtain the "Participation Ticket", the method of exchanging the "Participation Ticket" and the dates of the events you can participate in will differ. Please refer to the campaign page of each official partner for details.

• SoftBank / 7-Eleven: Campaign page
• Matsumotokiyoshi: To be released at a later date (Oct. 1)

What happens after I get the Pokémon GO Special Weekend Ticket?
Prior to the start of the event, please enter the promotion code included in your ticket on the promotion code entry page. During the event (11/7 (Sat.) 11am-2pm, 11/8 (Sun.) 11am-2pm), open Pokémon GO to confirm that your research has been received.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/ja/post/2020specialweekend-jp/

Niantic has announced the events that will take place in Pokémon GO throughout October 2020.

Pokémon GO October—Halloween, a fashion-themed event, and more!

Trainers, Halloween, a fashion-themed event, and more—read on to learn about what’s happening in the world of Pokémon GO in October.

October Research Breakthrough encounter
From Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7) to Sunday, November 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8), Shedinja, the Shed Pokémon, will be available as a Research Breakthrough encounter.

A month of different Legendary Raid Bosses!
Look forward to challenging different Legendary Raid Bosses throughout October!

• From Friday, September 25, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, October 2, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Zapdos will be available to challenge in five-star raids.
• From Friday, October 2, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, October 9, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Moltres will be available to challenge in five-star raids.
• From Friday, October 9, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, October 23, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Origin Forme Giratina will be available to challenge in five-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!
• Stay tuned for details about a special Raid Boss that’ll be available to challenge during our Halloween event!

Each week in October, there’ll be a Raid Hour event on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. local time featuring that week’s Legendary Raid Boss in five-star raids.

Pokémon Spotlight Hours
In the month of October, Pokémon Spotlight Hour will take place every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. local time, and each hour will spotlight a different Pokémon and special bonus!

• Tuesday, October 6, 2020: World Cap Pikachu will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for catching Pokémon.
• Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Original Cap Pikachu will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Candy for catching Pokémon.
• Tuesday, October 20, 2020: Shuppet will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Candy for transferring Pokémon.
• Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Duskull will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for evolving Pokémon.

October Limited Research featuring Alolan Meowth!
On Saturday, October 10, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time, you can complete exclusive Field Research tasks to encounter Meowth originally discovered in Kanto, Alola, and Galar! Look forward to exclusive Timed Research, and check the shop for a box available featuring Incense, Pinap Berries, and Lucky Eggs!

Fashion-themed event
Don’t forget—in celebration of the Longchamp x Pokémon collaboration, a fashion-themed event will take place from Friday, October 2, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Thursday, October 8, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).

Other upcoming events
October has a lot more in store! For Halloween, you can expect new avatar items, a Halloween-themed cup for GO Battle League Season 4, and the annual Halloween event! There’ll also be an event celebrating Niantic’s anniversary and the changing of seasons. Stay tuned for more details!

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/oct2020-events

Niantic has announced that in celebration of the exciting accessories coming out of the collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Longchamp Paris, as well as the beginning of Paris Fashion Week, a new avatar backpack accessory item will be available in Pokémon GO.

Have fun with the Longchamp x Pokémon collaboration, arriving soon in stores and in Pokémon GO!

Trainers, In celebration of the exciting accessories coming out of the collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Longchamp Paris, as well as the beginning of Paris Fashion Week, we’re proud to announce that a new avatar backpack accessory item will be available in Pokémon GO. That’s not all—some fashionable Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, challenging Trainers in raids, and hatching from Eggs, too!

Date + Time
Friday, October 2, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Thursday, October 8, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7)

Features

• Special Pokémon wearing costumes will be appearing during the event!
• Smoochum that hatch from 7 km Eggs during this time will appear wearing a bow!
• Kirlia wearing a top hat will be appearing in raids! They’ll also know the move Draining Kiss.
• Shinx wearing a top hat will be appearing in raids!
• Croagunk wearing a backwards cap will appear in GO Snapshot as a surprise encounter! They may also rarely appear in the wild.
• The following Pokémon will be appearing in the wild: Mareep, Skitty, Roselia, Kricketot, Croagunk wearing a backward cap, Blitzle, Cottonee, Minccino, Gothita, and more!
• If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Kricketot!
• Enjoy exclusive Field Research for the duration of the event.
• Dress up for fashion week—in person and in-game! Be sure to head to the shop for a free Longchamp avatar item in Pokémon GO. Then, you can match with your Trainer avatar by picking up the same Longchamp item in stores. For more information on availability, please visit the official Longchamp website.

It’s time for you and your Pokémon to show the world your style. Let’s GO! Please be aware of your surroundings when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/longchampfashionweek/

Niantic has announced that the GO Battle League Season 4 begins Monday, September 14th, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).

Trainers, As Season 3 of the GO Battle League finishes up, here’s a look at what you can expect for Season 4!

Season 3 rewards, Season 4 timeline, and what to expect
When Season 4 begins on Monday, September 14, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), your end-of-season rewards for Season 3 will be available on the Battle screen, including an Elite Charged TM if you reached rank 7 or higher! Season 4 will follow a similar league rotation as Season 3, noted in the schedule below. These dates are tentative. Stay tuned—we’ll update you if anything changes.

• The Great League will run from Monday, September 14, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, September 28, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
• The Ultra League and its Premier Cup will run from Monday, September 28, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, October 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7). This Premier Cup will have a 2,500 CP limit.
• The Master League and its Premier Cup will run from Monday, October 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, October 26, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7). This Premier Cup will have no CP limit.
• The all-new Halloween Cup will run from Monday, October 26, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7) to Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8). You can see more details about the Halloween Cup below.
• All three leagues and the Premier Cup (no CP limit) will be available from Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, November 9, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8).
• Season 5 will begin Monday, November 9, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8).

You can look forward to the all-new Halloween Cup, which will run from Monday, October 26, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7) to Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8). In this format, only Poison-, Ghost-, Bug-, Dark-, and Fairy-type Pokémon will be allowed. In addition, you can earn reward encounters with Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, all wearing Halloween costumes! The Halloween Cup will have a 1,500 CP limit. You can expect the following to stay the same in Season 4.

• There will not be a walking requirement in order to battle in the GO Battle League.
• The Friendship level requirement for battling remotely will remain at Good Friends throughout Season 4. Remember that you can scan another Trainer’s QR Code to battle them, no matter where they are.
• The avatar items inspired by Pikachu Libre will continue to be rank 7 rewards.
• The avatar items inspired by Blue from the Pokémon RPGs will continue to be rank 10 rewards.
• The win rewards and Pokémon reward encounters will remain the same as Season 3. As a reminder, the Pokémon encounter rewards are as follows.
• Pidgeot starting at rank 1
• Galarian Zigzagoon starting at rank 4
• Galarian Farfetch’d starting at rank 7
• Rufflet starting at rank 8
• Scraggy starting at rank 9
• Pikachu Libre starting at rank 10

What’s new in Season 4?
There are some notable changes coming to the GO Battle League for Season 4.

• Rank progression will be changing in Season 4. You can reach rank 2 by completing a certain number of battles, and you can reach ranks 3 through 9 by winning certain numbers of battles. You’ll still need to reach a rating of 3,000 to reach rank 10, similar to past GO Battle League seasons.
• The end-of-season rewards will be similar to those in Season 3.
• Stardust from rank 1 to rank 3
• Stardust, TMs, and a Raid Pass from rank 4 to rank 10
• If you reach rank 10, you’ll earn a brand-new avatar pose!
• If you finish Season 4 at rank 7 or higher, you’ll receive an Elite Fast TM rather than an Elite Charged TM.

GO Battle Night
On Thursday, September 24, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time, you can experience the all-new Flying Cup during the limited-time GO Battle Night event!

Features

• The Flying Cup will be available! In this format, only Flying-type Pokémon will be allowed, and the CP limit is 1,500.
• You’ll be able to complete 20 sets of GO Battle League battles, up from the regular five sets, for a total of up to 100 battles.
• You’ll receive twice the Stardust for winning battles, completing sets of battles, and ranking up in the GO Battle League.
• Evolve Pidgeotto (the evolved form of Pidgey) during the event to get a Pidgeot that knows Gust!

The following new attack will be added to Pokémon GO.

• Lunge: This Bug-type Charged Attack will lower the opposing Pokémon’s Attack. Initially when this attack becomes available, only Masquerain and Galvantula will be able to learn it.

The following attacks have been updated for Trainer Battles.

• Bug Buzz: This Bug-type Charged Attack now has a chance of lowering the opposing Pokémon’s Defense.
• Flame Charge: This Fire-type Charged Attack now deals less damage and will raise the user’s Attack.
• Signal Beam: This Bug-type Charged Attack now has a chance of lowering the opposing Pokémon’s Attack and Defense.

Along with these updates to existing attacks, the following Pokémon can learn an attack it couldn’t before.

• Vespiquen and Signal Beam: This powerful Bug-type attack is a perfect fit for a powerful Bug-type Pokémon like Vespiquen.

We’re also excited to give you a sneak peek at the next season. Season 5 will be shorter than previous seasons, at just three weeks long. Additionally, ratings won’t be in effect for this season: you’ll progress through the ranks by winning a certain number of battles. We hope to see Trainers try out new strategies, test different battle teams, and prepare for Season 6!

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/gobattleleague-season4/