News Articles
Niantic announced that Raid Battles and New Gym Features are coming to Pokémon GO in its biggest update.
New Gym Features and Updates: Starting soon, Gyms are undergoing a major facelift. You’ll soon be able to spin the Photo Disc at Gyms to acquire items just as you do at PokéStops—but that’s only the beginning. More updates to Gym battles are also just around the corner. Gyms are no longer based on Prestige and training. Instead, they now feature six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team’s Pokémon. Each Pokémon assigned to these slots must be unique. For example, only one Blissey can be assigned to a Gym at a time. In addition, opposing teams will battle the Pokémon in the order they were assigned to the Gym.
At the heart of the update is a new motivation system that will significantly change how you interact with Gyms. When a Pokémon is assigned to a Gym, a motivation meter will be displayed. Pokémon assigned to defend a Gym lose motivation over time and as they are defeated in battle. As a Pokémon loses motivation, its CP will temporarily decrease, making it easier for opposing teams to defeat. To help keep the Pokémon motivated and in tip-top shape for their next battle, Trainers can treat their team’s Pokémon to some Berries, which restore their motivation. If a Pokémon loses all motivation, it will leave the Gym and return to its Trainer the next time it loses a battle, so you’ll want to keep your team’s Pokémon motivated by giving them Berries frequently!
Gym Badges: Now you’ll be able to earn Gym Badges when interacting with the many Gyms around the world. Gym Badges serve as mementos of your Pokémon GO adventures and reflect your contribution to a Gym’s success.
You’ll be able to level up your Badges by battling, giving Berries to the Pokémon in the Gym and spinning the Gym’s Photo Disc. You can earn the opportunity to receive bonus items and increased rewards from Gyms by raising the level of your Gym Badge.
New Raid Battle Feature: All around the world, you’ll soon be able to participate in the new Raid Battle feature at Gyms. A Raid Battle is a cooperative gameplay experience that encourages you to work with other Trainers to defeat an extremely powerful Pokémon known as the Raid Boss. Before a Raid Battle begins, all Pokémon assigned to the Gym will return to their Trainers, and a large Egg will appear atop the Gym. When the countdown above the Egg reaches zero, the Raid Boss will be revealed.
Before you can battle the Raid Boss, you’ll need a Raid Pass. You can get one free Raid Pass per day by visiting a Gym, but you can only hold one at a time. You can also get Premium Raid Passes from the in-game shop. Upon using your pass to join the battle, you and up to 20 other Trainers work together to defeat the Raid Boss. If you successfully defeat the Raid Boss within the five-minute time limit, you’ll have the chance to catch an extra powerful Pokémon of your own!
New Items: After defeating a Raid Boss, you’ll receive a collection of rewards, including some new items obtained only by defeating a Raid Boss: Rare Candies, Golden Razz Berries, and two types of Technical Machines—Fast and Charged. A Rare Candy is a mysterious candy that, when used on a Pokémon, turns into that Pokémon’s Candy. Golden Razz Berries will greatly increase your chances of catching a Pokémon you encounter in the wild and can also be given to a Pokémon assigned to a Gym to fully recover its motivation meter. Technical Machines are items you can use to permanently teach a Pokémon a new Fast Attack or Charged Attack.
To put these exciting changes in motion, we’ll be temporarily disabling all Gyms. Once the update has been rolled out to players around the world, Gyms will return. The Raid Battle feature will then be rolled out slowly over the next few weeks, starting as a beta, with raids visible only to a subset of players at certain Gym locations. Over a few days, we’ll invite more players to participate and enable raids at more Gyms around the world. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on when you’ll be able to start battling in raids. We can’t wait to see you outside battling at your local Gyms!
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/raids
Raid Battles and New Gym Features are Coming!
Trainers, The biggest update to Pokémon GO is nearly here! Very soon, Trainers around the world will be able to participate in a revamped Gym gameplay experience, including the opportunity to join together with others to battle against powerful Pokémon in the new Raid Battle feature!New Gym Features and Updates: Starting soon, Gyms are undergoing a major facelift. You’ll soon be able to spin the Photo Disc at Gyms to acquire items just as you do at PokéStops—but that’s only the beginning. More updates to Gym battles are also just around the corner. Gyms are no longer based on Prestige and training. Instead, they now feature six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team’s Pokémon. Each Pokémon assigned to these slots must be unique. For example, only one Blissey can be assigned to a Gym at a time. In addition, opposing teams will battle the Pokémon in the order they were assigned to the Gym.
At the heart of the update is a new motivation system that will significantly change how you interact with Gyms. When a Pokémon is assigned to a Gym, a motivation meter will be displayed. Pokémon assigned to defend a Gym lose motivation over time and as they are defeated in battle. As a Pokémon loses motivation, its CP will temporarily decrease, making it easier for opposing teams to defeat. To help keep the Pokémon motivated and in tip-top shape for their next battle, Trainers can treat their team’s Pokémon to some Berries, which restore their motivation. If a Pokémon loses all motivation, it will leave the Gym and return to its Trainer the next time it loses a battle, so you’ll want to keep your team’s Pokémon motivated by giving them Berries frequently!
Gym Badges: Now you’ll be able to earn Gym Badges when interacting with the many Gyms around the world. Gym Badges serve as mementos of your Pokémon GO adventures and reflect your contribution to a Gym’s success.
You’ll be able to level up your Badges by battling, giving Berries to the Pokémon in the Gym and spinning the Gym’s Photo Disc. You can earn the opportunity to receive bonus items and increased rewards from Gyms by raising the level of your Gym Badge.
New Raid Battle Feature: All around the world, you’ll soon be able to participate in the new Raid Battle feature at Gyms. A Raid Battle is a cooperative gameplay experience that encourages you to work with other Trainers to defeat an extremely powerful Pokémon known as the Raid Boss. Before a Raid Battle begins, all Pokémon assigned to the Gym will return to their Trainers, and a large Egg will appear atop the Gym. When the countdown above the Egg reaches zero, the Raid Boss will be revealed.
Before you can battle the Raid Boss, you’ll need a Raid Pass. You can get one free Raid Pass per day by visiting a Gym, but you can only hold one at a time. You can also get Premium Raid Passes from the in-game shop. Upon using your pass to join the battle, you and up to 20 other Trainers work together to defeat the Raid Boss. If you successfully defeat the Raid Boss within the five-minute time limit, you’ll have the chance to catch an extra powerful Pokémon of your own!
New Items: After defeating a Raid Boss, you’ll receive a collection of rewards, including some new items obtained only by defeating a Raid Boss: Rare Candies, Golden Razz Berries, and two types of Technical Machines—Fast and Charged. A Rare Candy is a mysterious candy that, when used on a Pokémon, turns into that Pokémon’s Candy. Golden Razz Berries will greatly increase your chances of catching a Pokémon you encounter in the wild and can also be given to a Pokémon assigned to a Gym to fully recover its motivation meter. Technical Machines are items you can use to permanently teach a Pokémon a new Fast Attack or Charged Attack.
To put these exciting changes in motion, we’ll be temporarily disabling all Gyms. Once the update has been rolled out to players around the world, Gyms will return. The Raid Battle feature will then be rolled out slowly over the next few weeks, starting as a beta, with raids visible only to a subset of players at certain Gym locations. Over a few days, we’ll invite more players to participate and enable raids at more Gyms around the world. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on when you’ll be able to start battling in raids. We can’t wait to see you outside battling at your local Gyms!
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/raids
Jun 08 2017
The First Anniversary of Pokémon GO
Trainers, We’re celebrating two amazing milestones—Pokémon GO’s one-year anniversary and 750 million global downloads—and you’re invited to join in on the fun! Over the next few months, we’re hosting real-world and in-game events planned alongside some very exciting new features that will get you outside exploring the world with family and friends. Get ready for an action-packed couple of months!
To kick things off, we will be hosting the Solstice Event starting on June 13, 2017. This in-game event will feature Fire-type and Ice-type Pokémon, huge XP bonuses for throwing Poké Balls accurately, and discounted Lucky Eggs in the in-game shop. Soon thereafter, you can look forward to a new update focused on collaborative group gameplay features that will get you playing Pokémon GO in fun new ways. In preparation for these exciting features, we’ll be temporarily disabling Gyms for a short period of time.
We’re also excited to announce our first ever real-world Pokémon GO event coming your way: Pokémon GO Fest Chicago! This event will take place in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA at the beautiful Grant Park on July 22, 2017. Join us as we celebrate the Pokémon GO community with a ton of exciting festivities. Tickets and more information for Pokémon GO Fest Chicago will be available at PokemonGoLive.com/Fest on Monday, June 19 at 10:00 A.M. PDT, so make sure to mark your calendars and follow our social media channels to be notified when tickets go live! European Trainers can look forward to Pokémon GO celebrations hosted across the continent from June through September in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers. We'll be posting a complete schedule for these events very soon. Also, The Pokémon Company is organizing “Pikachu Outbreak”, a Pokémon event in Yokohama, Japan, in August where they’re exploring a unique Pokémon GO experience. Stay tuned for even more details surrounding each of these events in the coming weeks.
Keep an eye on PokemonGoLive.com and our Pokémon GO social media channels for the latest news and updates surrounding the exciting features and events coming your way. See you outside!
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/anniversary2017
May 19 2017
Pokémon GO Adventure Week 2017 / Pokémon GO updated to version 0.63.1 for Android and 1.33.1 for iOS
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.
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
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.
May 04 2017
Pokémon GO Worldwide Bloom Weekend!
Niantic has announced that from May 5th, 2017 until May 8th, 2017, Pokémon GO will have an increased chance to encounter Grass-type Pokémon in the wild.
Help us contribute to Professor Willow’s ongoing research by catching as many Grass-type Pokémon as possible this weekend. While you’re out with friends and family, don’t forget to document your findings using the Pokémon GO AR camera and share your screenshots on social media using #PokemonGO.
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/grassweekend2017
Worldwide bloom this weekend!
Trainers, Professor Willow's research into Pokémon habitats around the world has uncovered some interesting findings. His initial reports indicate that we’ll see an influx of Grass-type Pokémon sometime this weekend. These Pokémon will appear in the wild more frequently starting the afternoon of May 5, but only for a short period of time. We anticipate that Pokémon will return to their normal habitats on May 8, 2017 PDT.Help us contribute to Professor Willow’s ongoing research by catching as many Grass-type Pokémon as possible this weekend. While you’re out with friends and family, don’t forget to document your findings using the Pokémon GO AR camera and share your screenshots on social media using #PokemonGO.
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/grassweekend2017
Apr 14 2017
Pokémon GO Study Finds Players are Happier, Friendlier / Pokémon GO Wins Multiple Awards
A study conducted by media researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison concluded that players of Pokémon GO players are happier and friendlier than non-Pokémon GO players. This is the second major study to conclude that Pokémon GO has healthy benefits for players despite the negative attention that the media has given the game for causing injuries and robberies.
James Alex Bonus, a UW–Madison graduate student studying educational media and one of the people that conducted the study, said in an interview that he joined the throng playing the game when it was new, but was surprised by the mix of reactions in the media covering the game.
“There was plenty of negative press about distracted people trespassing and running into trees or walking into the street, But you also saw people really enjoying it, having a good time together outside.”
Pages 1-25 | Published online: 07 Apr 2017
An online survey of 399 U.S. adults aged 18–75 indicated that playing the AR game Pokémon Go was associated with various positive responses (increased positive affect, nostalgic reverie, friendship formation, friendship intensification, and walking), most of which predicted enhanced well-being. Additionally, two indirect effects of gameplay were moderated by social anxiety. For highly anxious participants, gameplay showed weaker associations with positive affect (a predictor of enhanced well-being), but also weaker associations with nostalgic regret (a predictor of reduced well-being).
Sources: http://news.wisc.edu/study-finds-pokemon-go-players-are-happier-friendlier/ and http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15213269.2017.1305280?journalCode=hmep20
We owe the continued momentum and recognition to the dedicated players exploring the world and creating adventures together in Pokémon GO. Each and every award Pokémon GO has won is a testament to the game’s awesome and supportive community. We haven’t had a chance to thank everyone for each of these, so please accept a collective thank you now on behalf of all of us at Niantic and our partners at The Pokémon Company for all of these amazing honors including, but not limited to:
Sources: https://nianticlabs.com/blog/thankyou040717/, http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/games-awards-winners-list-2017
James Alex Bonus, a UW–Madison graduate student studying educational media and one of the people that conducted the study, said in an interview that he joined the throng playing the game when it was new, but was surprised by the mix of reactions in the media covering the game.
“There was plenty of negative press about distracted people trespassing and running into trees or walking into the street, But you also saw people really enjoying it, having a good time together outside.”
Look on the Bright Side (of Media Effects): Pokémon Go as a Catalyst for Positive Life Experiences
James Alex Bonus, Alanna Peebles, Marie-Louise Mares & Irene G. SarmientoPages 1-25 | Published online: 07 Apr 2017
An online survey of 399 U.S. adults aged 18–75 indicated that playing the AR game Pokémon Go was associated with various positive responses (increased positive affect, nostalgic reverie, friendship formation, friendship intensification, and walking), most of which predicted enhanced well-being. Additionally, two indirect effects of gameplay were moderated by social anxiety. For highly anxious participants, gameplay showed weaker associations with positive affect (a predictor of enhanced well-being), but also weaker associations with nostalgic regret (a predictor of reduced well-being).
Sources: http://news.wisc.edu/study-finds-pokemon-go-players-are-happier-friendlier/ and http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15213269.2017.1305280?journalCode=hmep20
Pokémon GO Wins Best Mobile and Handheld Game at BAFTA's
Pokémon GO was nominated for 3 British Academy Games Awards in 2017 in the Family, Game Innovation and Mobile categories. It won Best Mobile and Handheld Game at the British Academy of Film, Television and Arts Game Awards on April 6th, 2017. Niantic posted a thank you blog post where they also listed some of the other recognition's they've received for the game.Thank you...
It’s been another incredible week for Pokémon GO. Yesterday, Pokémon GO won the Best Mobile and Handheld Game at the British Academy of Film, Television and Arts Game Awards. We are surprised and grateful to be awarded this honor.We owe the continued momentum and recognition to the dedicated players exploring the world and creating adventures together in Pokémon GO. Each and every award Pokémon GO has won is a testament to the game’s awesome and supportive community. We haven’t had a chance to thank everyone for each of these, so please accept a collective thank you now on behalf of all of us at Niantic and our partners at The Pokémon Company for all of these amazing honors including, but not limited to:
- Adweek’s Hot List - Hottest Digital Obsession & Hottest Mobile Game
- Academy of Arts and Science’s D.I.C.E. Awards - Mobile Game of the Year
- BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards - Best Game
- GameSpot - Best Mobile Games of the Year
- Golden Joystick Awards - Innovation of the Year & Handheld/Mobile Game of the Year
- GSMA Glomo Awards 2017 - Best Overall Mobile App
- IGN - Mobile Game of the Year
- SXSW Gaming Awards - Mobile Game of the Year
- TechCrunch's Crunchies - Best App of the Year
- The Game Awards - Best Mobile/Handheld Game & Best Family Game
- The Game Developers Choice Awards - Best Mobile/Handheld Game
Sources: https://nianticlabs.com/blog/thankyou040717/, http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/games-awards-winners-list-2017
YouTube Clip - Pokemon Go wins Mobile | BAFTA Games Awards 2017
Apr 13 2017
The Pokémon GO Eggstravaganza
Niantic has announced that a special egg event will take place to celebrate Easter from April 13th, 2017 until April 20th, 2017. Eggs have a greater variety of Pokémon, players earn more Candy from every hatched egg and can level up faster with double XP. Lucky Eggs are also 50% off in the in-game shop during the event.
Throughout this Eggstravaganza, you’ll also level up even faster with double XP! Combine this Egg-cellent bonus with a Lucky Egg, and you’ll earn four times the XP you normally would. To make this Eggstravaganza even sweeter, Lucky Eggs will be 50% off in the in-game shop!
Get out there, hatch some Eggs, and share your stories with us using #PokemonGO on your favorite social media channels.
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/eggstravaganza2017
The Pokémon GO Eggstravaganza
Trainers, Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to put a spring in your step—the Pokémon GO Eggstravaganza is nearly here! From 1:00 P.M. PDT on April 13 to 1:00 P.M. PDT on April 20, 2017, a greater variety of Pokémon can now be found in 2 km Eggs, so get cracking and see what you find! Your Egg-venture doesn’t stop there, though—you’ll also earn more Candy for every Egg you hatch!Throughout this Eggstravaganza, you’ll also level up even faster with double XP! Combine this Egg-cellent bonus with a Lucky Egg, and you’ll earn four times the XP you normally would. To make this Eggstravaganza even sweeter, Lucky Eggs will be 50% off in the in-game shop!
Get out there, hatch some Eggs, and share your stories with us using #PokemonGO on your favorite social media channels.
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/eggstravaganza2017
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.
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/ver-update-040617
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
Mar 22 2017
Pokémon Go Water Festival - Make a Splash
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.
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
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
Niantic announced that from March 4th, 2017 until March 13th, 2017, Kabigon will appear more frequently than normal in Pokémon Go in the Kumamoto and Ōita Prefectures of Japan. They also warn players to be careful playing the game in those areas as there is still a lot of localized reconstruction work continuing as a result of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
Source: https://twitter.com/PokemonGOAppJP/status/837210891166842881
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.
Source: http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/ver-update-021617
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
