Niantic officially announced Trainer Battles which were teased about in the past few days on social media. The feature will be available later in December 2018.

COMING SOON: Show your skills with Pokémon GO Trainer Battles!

Trainers, From encountering and catching your first Pokémon to assembling a powerful team to take on a Legendary Pokémon in Raid Battles, you have certainly built incredible skills as a Trainer over the last two years. Are you ready for the next big challenge? Show off your skills against others with Trainer Battles, coming soon to Pokémon GO!


Beginning this month, Trainer Battles will allow you to challenge a friend or another Trainer at any time! Challenge another Trainer using a Battle Code, assemble a team of three Pokémon, and see who comes out on top! When Trainer Battles are completed, both participants will receive great rewards, including a chance at rare Evolution items.

In order to ensure an even playing field, Trainers must compete in the same Trainer Battle League, which determines the CP limit for the participating Pokémon. Strength alone will not ensure victory! Whether you’re battling with a Caterpie or a Mewtwo, the cleverer and more strategic Trainer will have an advantage.


Battles are fast-paced and real-time, so don’t expect to wait your turn! Your selected team of Pokémon will be able to execute both their Fast Attack and Charged Attack moves. In preparation for battle, you’ll even be able to use Stardust and Candy to unlock a bonus Charged Attack for your Pokémon. Timing is important! If you use your head and keep an eye on your opponent’s moves, you may be able to deploy a Protect Shield to save your Pokémon from critical damage. But you only have a limited number of these shields before your Pokémon will be left defenseless.

While Trainers will usually have to be nearby in order to initiate a Trainer Battle, Ultra Friends and Best Friends can challenge each other from any distance. So, near or far, you can battle with your closest friends!


Looking to learn the ropes or sharpen your budding battle skills? Team leaders Spark, Candela, and Blanche are eager to test your bravery! You can earn rewards once per day when training with a team leader, including Stardust to help power up your Pokémon. Work toward earning an Ace Trainer medal!

It’s up to you to get your Pokémon into shape! The only way you’ll become a Trainer Battle master is to get out there and GO!

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

From November 16th, 2018 until November 26th, 2018, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! have sold a combined 1.5 million copies in the United States. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon has sold 2.2 million copies since its launch on November 17th, 2017.

Nintendo Hits Big Milestones from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday

Nintendo Switch set two new records from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday: It became the best-selling Nintendo console in U.S. history for that five-day period, surpassing even Wii system sales. Nintendo Switch also had its best-selling week ever in the United States. In fact, according to Adobe Analytics, Nintendo Switch was among the most-purchased items online on Thanksgiving Day and the overall top-selling video game product online for the Black Friday-Cyber Monday time period.

Strong demand resulted in shoppers buying more than $250 million in Nintendo products from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, according to Nintendo’s internal sales figures, demonstrating that Nintendo has something for everyone this holiday season. That sales total accounts for video game systems like Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, retro systems like Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition and Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition, as well as all Nintendo-produced games and accessories. Total U.S. hardware sales for Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday increased 45 percent over the same period in 2017.

And that doesn’t even take into account that one of the most anticipated video game events of the year is still to come: the Dec. 7 launch of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game. As previously announced, the game has become not only the most pre-sold Nintendo Switch game of all time, but also the most pre-sold Super Smash Bros. game ever in the series.

Unless otherwise noted, the following data from Nintendo covers Nov. 22 to Nov. 26, and is specific to the U.S. only:

• Nintendo Switch hardware sales grew 115 percent compared to the same period in 2017.
• Lifetime sales of Nintendo Switch, which is entering only its second holiday season, have reached more than 8.2 million units.
• Sales of first-party games, including digital downloads, topped 1 million units Nov. 22-26, beating 2017’s totals by 78 percent.
• Nintendo Switch games Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! have hit combined U.S. sales of more than 1.5 million units since their Nov. 16 launch.
• Additionally, after 12 months of availability, lifetime combined sales of the Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon games crossed 2.2 million.

Niantic has announced that from November 30th, 2018 until December 2nd, 2018, players of Pokémon GO will be able to catch every Pokémon species in the wild featured during the Community Days throughout 2018.

Celebrate a year’s worth of Community Days in December!

Trainers, We want to thank you for making this year’s Community Days so special. All over the world, in all kinds of weather, Trainers gathered to catch an array of Pokémon species and hoped for a glimpse of a Shiny Pokémon. We appreciate your dedication and enthusiasm!

In order to celebrate a fantastic year of Community Days, every Pokémon species featured during these events will appear in the wild again, all around the world, for a special weekend-long event, from Friday, November 30, at 1 p.m. PST to Sunday, December 2, at 11 p.m. PST. All of the featured moves from each Community Day will also be available, so your evolved Pokémon can get them! Additionally, special bonuses will be available for just three hours in each region. See more details below:

Event Date + Time

• November 30, 2018, at 1 p.m. PST to December 2, 2018, at 11 p.m. PST

Event Features

• Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Eevee, Dratini, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Mareep, Larvitar, and Beldum will appear more frequently in the wild.
• Special moves previously featured during Community Day events in 2018 will be available again during the weekend!

Special Bonus Date + Time

• Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India: December 1, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. UTC (GMT +0)
• The Americas and Greenland: December 1, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8)
• Asia-Pacific: December 2, 2018, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. JST (GMT +9)

Bonuses

• Double Catch XP
• Double Catch Stardust
• Double Incubator effectiveness

We can’t wait to see you out there, Trainers! Stay safe, and happy exploring!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/dec18-cd/

Niantic has announced that from November 20th, 2018 until December 18th, 2018, Pokémon GO players will be able to battle Cresselia in Raid Battles.

A new phase of Raid Battles begins with Cresselia!

Trainers, As Pokémon’s legendary year is coming to a close, there will be an exciting appearance of a Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region. The Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon Cresselia will join Raid Battles on November 20 at 1:00 p.m. PST! Details below:

Date + Time

• Nov. 20, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8) to Dec. 18, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8)

Features

• Cresselia will appear in Raid Battles!

Don’t miss this chance to catch this Legendary Pokémon before it returns to its shrine! Stay safe, and happy exploring!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/legendary-cresselia/

The official English Pokémon website has confirmed that the Pikachu balloon with Snowman Pikachu will be in the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Pikachu Soars This Thanksgiving!

Don’t miss the famous Pikachu balloon flying high in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Making its 18th consecutive appearance, the famous Pikachu once again flies high through the skyscrapers of New York City in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. See Pikachu wearing a cozy scarf and carrying a cute Snowman Pikachu as it winds through the Manhattan skyline. Fans across America can watch the parade November 22 on NBC starting at 9 a.m. Be sure to check your local TV listings so you don't miss Pikachu's amazing appearance.

Happy Thanksgiving from Pokémon!

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/pikachu-soars-this-thanksgiving/

Resorts World Genting has announced that it will be hosting Malaysia's First Pokémon Festival to celebrate Christmas and Chinese New Year. The event will take place from December 1st, 2018 until February 28th, 2019.


Resorts World Genting is an integrated hill resort development comprising hotels, shopping malls, theme parks and casinos, perched on the peak of Mount Ulu Kali at 1,800 meters high and nestled near the border between the states of Pahang and Selangor, Malaysia.

MALAYSIA’S FIRST POKÉMON FESTIVAL

Let’s celebrate this Christmas and Chinese New Year 2019 with your favorite POKÉMON!

Be among the first to catch 32 first generation POKÉMON figurines at SkyAvenue. Do not miss out on the tallest POKÉMON-themed Christmas Tree in the world and the first PIKACHU parade in Malaysia. Moreover, a giant 6 METER PIKACHU inflatable is awaiting you at Genting now!

Source: https://www.rwgenting.com/Pokemon-Festival/

To promote the new games Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, Niantic has announced a Special Research to learn about the mysterious Mythical Pokémon Meltan. Kanto Pokémon will appear more often in Pokémon GO until November 27th, 2018.

Discover Meltan and more in celebration of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

Trainers, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! are out now for Nintendo Switch, and there’s plenty to learn about the mysterious Mythical Pokémon Meltan! Professor Willow needs your help tracking down this Steel-type Pokémon with some new Special Research—are you up for the task? You can get started right now!

Plus, in addition to the Special Research, Field Research featuring Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region and not commonly found in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! will be available from now until November 27. Make sure to look around you during that time, as Pokémon such as Omanyte and Kabuto may appear in the wild more frequently!

Can’t get enough of Pikachu and Eevee? Celebrate the launch of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! by showing your love with new Pikachu Cap and Eevee Cap avatar items, now available in the Style Shop!

And don’t forget to mark your calendar! From November 23 at 1:00 p.m. PST to November 26 at 1:00 p.m. PST, certain Evolutions of Eevee—Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, and Umbreon—as well as Raichu and its Alolan form will appear more frequently in Raid Battles!

So, Trainers, get ready for a brand-new adventure, and let’s GO!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/letsgo-celebration

Niantic has announced a egg hatching event for Pokémon GO that takes place from November 14th, 2018 until November 27th, 2018.

The Hatchathon highlights Pokémon with Evolutions discovered in Sinnoh!

Trainers, It’s time to get cracking on an egg-citing event! From November 14 at 1:00 p.m. PST to November 27 at 1:00 p.m. PST, some Pokémon with evolved forms originally discovered in the Sinnoh region—such as Rhyhorn, Porygon, and Magby—will be present in 2 km Eggs! Check out the details below:

Date + Time
• Nov. 14 at 1:00 p.m. PST to Nov. 27 at 1:00 p.m. PST

Bonuses
• Pokémon such as Rhyhorn, Porygon, and Magby will be present in 2 km Eggs!
• If you’re lucky, you may hatch a Shiny Elekid!

It’s time to hatch a plan to make the most of your Eggs, Trainers! Stay safe, and happy exploring!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/sinnoh-hatchathon/

Boxes:

Special Box - 480 Coins - 1 Incense, 3 Incubators, 2 Premium Raid Pass, 1 Lure Module
Great Box - 780 Coins - 3 Incense, 5 Super Incubators, 2 Lucky Egg, 3 Premium Raid Pass
Ultra Box - 1480 Coins - 12 Super Incubators, 6 Lucky Egg, 8 Premium Raid Pass, 5 Lure Modules

Sentosa has announced that they will host the first Pikachu Night Parade outside Japan in December of 2018. Pikachu will be dressed up with LED's and will march in a parade. Sentosa is Asia’s leading leisure destination and Singapore’s premier island resort getaway, located within 15 minutes from the central business and shopping districts.

Sentosa to host first Pikachu Night Parade outside Japan amid dazzling Island Lights

The picturesque sunsets of Sentosa’s Palawan Beach are set to transform into enigmatic and photo-worthy visual treats with the return of Island Lights, bigger and brighter for the year-end holiday season! Previously known as Pop Up Night, Island Lights 2018 will be home to some 10 Instagrammable installations, as well as the inaugural Pikachu Night Parade outside Japan!

Pikachu Night Parade
Everyone’s favourite Pokémon, Pikachu, will also be joining the Island Lights party, marking the first Pikachu night parade outside Japan! Taking place from 7:30pm on 14-16 and 21-23 December 2018, the Pikachu Night Parade will see a posse of nine adorable Pikachu dolled up in LED lights as they march and dance along a 100m route, past Palawan Pirate Ship and Palawan Kidz City. Audiences can choose to line themselves along the route at Palawan Beach Walk to capture sights of Pikachu performing and dancing along to funky beats!

The Palawan Pirate Ship, in the spirit of all things Pokémon, will also be decorated with Pokémon fan favourites such as Pikachu and Eevee.

“At Sentosa, the fun doesn’t stop at dusk. In fact, nights at Sentosa this year-end period offers more fun and excitement as we continuously bring unique, after-dark leisure experiences to our guests. By taking advantage of the landscape at Palawan Beach, Island Lights will be a great addition to our island’s existing variety of night offerings, from dining options to attractions such as Palawan Pirate Ship that continue to stay open after 6pm. We look forward to welcoming more locals and tourists to Sentosa during the upcoming holiday period,” said Ms Lynette Ang, Chief Marketing Officer of Sentosa Development Corporation.

Source: https://www.sentosa.gov.sg/

The Pokémon Company has announced that the Elite Four will return in the upcoming games Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Let's Go, Eevee but with a fresh new look! High resolution images from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

THE ELITE FOUR RETURN WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK

The formidable members of the Pokémon League are back and ready to challenge players of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! when the games launch on Nintendo Switch later this month. Inspired by Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! games have given the Kanto region and its inhabitants a major visual update, and the Elite Four are no exception. Check out the new looks for Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and Lance in a series of images alongside their cameo appearances in this latest video:

YouTube Trailer - Put Your Skills to the Ultimate Test: Become the Pokémon League Champion!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulsNuIXES9s