Pokémon Go: the world's first augmented reality app to become a household name. Niantic's mobile AR game is still going strong four years after it first released, with a constant drip of events and updates keeping budding trainers glued to their phones and pounding the streets.
And while it hasn't managed to top the peak of its popularity in 2016, it's still going strong and finding plenty of new ways to improve its player experience. Including making it easier for its players to catch 'em all from inside their own homes during coronavirus quarantines.
So what's the latest news for Pokémon Go? As you'd expect, brand new features are being added all the time and themed events are still going strong.
But without further ado, here's our guide to all the latest Pokémon Go news and updates.
- Pokémon Go tips and tricks: how to get better at the game
- How to fix the biggest problems with Pokémon Go
- Pokémon Gone: how Pokémon Go can bring back lapsed trainers
- How to catch a Ditto in Pokémon Go
- How to play Pokémon Go from home
Pokémon Go news and Pokémon Go updates
- What's new? Pokémon Go Fest has come and gone but there's some Ultra Unlock weeks, a new community day on its way and season 3 of the Go Battle League is here.
Dropping support for 32-bit Android devices...eventually
Niantic has announced plans to end support for 32-bit Android devices. The hope is that doing so will allow the development team to streamline processes and focus on supporting newer operating systems and technologies. Some of the phones that will be affected by this decision include Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3, J3, Sony Xperia Z2, Z3, Motorola Moto G's 1st generation and many Android phones that were released before 2015.
When the update takes place, those on these devices won't be able to access their Pokémon Go accounts using them and will have to upgrade their device before they can play again. Niantic hasn't confirmed when this update will happen—originally planned for August 2020 it has since been delayed and deemed "TBD" so that Niantic can "investigate player concerns" over the decision.
Coronavirus play-at-home changes: a new way to battle Team Rocket
Given Pokémon Go is a game which attempts to draw its players outside, Niantic is having to react to the Coronavirus pandemic and make some temporary changes which will make it easier for players to continue to catch 'em all without stepping over the door.
In a statement to Polygon, the developer has said that it's “prioritizing updates to Pokémon Go features and experiences that can be enjoyed in individual settings.”
The latest changes, announced June 18, are going to be going into testing and are expected to roll out over the coming months.
The first is daily guaranteed Pokémon encountersDaily guaranteed Pokémon encounters. Trainers chosen to test this feature will receive a special kind of Incense from Professor Willow which will attract a Pokémon once per day to you and only you.
A further help will be daily free boxes in the in-game shop. Trainers chosen to test this will receive a free box of items in the shop every day containing different items each time.
Niantic also made it possible to battle Team Rocket at home in July. The bad guys are invading the in-game map in hot air balloons and only have to be tapped to be battled, which makes things easier for players who are quarantined and can't get out and about to Pokéstops.
Team Leaders and Giovanni will be in these balloons too, as long as you have your Rocket Radar and Super Rocket Radar equipped to see them.
Check out our guide on how to play Pokémon Go at home to see all the changes Niantic has made and how they'll help you stay safe and catch 'em all.
Pokémon Go Battle League—Season 3
Its second season now finished up, the third season of Pokémon Go's competitive Battle League began on July 27. Trainers who took part in the second season and achieved a rank of 7 or higher will have received an Elite Fast TM.
Trainer Battles within the GO Battle League will rotate between three leagues and players will be able to rank against fellow Trainers, earning rewards for ranking.
The GO Battle League is beginning with the Great League until July 27, which will be followed by the Ultra League from August 10, then the Master League from August 24, after which all three Leagues will be available from September 7 to September 14. Season 4 is expected to begin on September 14, when each of these Leagues has been cycled through.
The Premier Cup with no CP limit will run with the Ultra League and the Master League this time around.
Players can earn Stardust depending on rank and number of battles won as well as items like Rare Candies and TMS as well as the chance to get exclusive Pokémon encounters.
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, Niantic is continuing to waive the walk and pay entry requirements for Battle League for season 3.
Players who are not in-game close friends will no longer need to be close to one another to Battle and will be able to send Battle requests to Good Friends and above. Trainers can now also initiate battles through QR codes which can be used regardless of friendship levels and distance. The battles, wins, and ratings needed to reach each rank will also stay as it was in season 2.
There are some changes being made to Battle League for season 3, though. These changes include more cups—a Flying cup exclusive to (shocker) Flying-type Pokémon will be coming at a later date—and the removal of the Battle Until You Win feature.
Reward encounters are also a little different for season 3. At rank 1, players will encounter Pidgeot; at rank 4 Galarian Zigzagoon; at rank 7 Galarian Farfetch’d; at rank 8 Rufflet; at rank 9 Scraggy; and from rank 10 it'll be Pikachu Libre. Players who reach rank 10 will also earn a new avatar pose and item.
For the premium rewards track players will earn Rare Candies after their fourth win but the number of Rare Candies rewarded is now six rather than 8.
Those who finish Season 3 at rank 7 or higher will receive an Elite Charged TM but all of the other end-of-season rewards will stay the same as in Season 2.
Live Leaderboards
As of April 10, you can see who's doing well in the Pokémon Battle League thanks to the launch of the GO Battle League leaderboard on PokemonGOLive.com. The leaderboard has come as the GO Battle League changes from Ultra League to Master League.
The leaderboards show the top five hundred Trainers in the world as well as their Trainer nicknames, teams, ranks, ratings, and total matches.
Rankings are based on the previous day’s in-game ratings for Trainers rank 7 and up but it'll update between 8pm UTC and 10pm UTC every day unless maintenance issues cause a delay.
What's the next Pokémon Go Event?
Pokémon Go Fest 2020—the Ultra Unlock aftermath
The big Pokémon Go event of the summer, Pokémon Go Fest, has now come and gone. Niantic has recorded some global data from the event, reporting in a blog post that across the weekend of the event, trainers caught nearly 1 billion Pokémon, they defeated over 58 million Team GO Rocket members, sent 55 million gifts and walked, on average, nearly 15 kilometers each.
This was the first Pokémon Go Fest to take place virtually on a global scale with players able to take part from anywhere in the world and work together. It appears to have been a success as players managed to unlock three weeks of bonus events known as Ultra Unlock Weeks.
Week one of Ultra Unlock is themed around Dragon-types and will run from July 31 until August 7. During this week, Alolan Exeggutor, Horsea, Dratini, Trapinch, Swablu, and Bagon will appear more in the wild while Horsea, Dratini, Trapinch, Swablu, and Bagon, Gible and Deino will hatch from 7km Eggs. Rayquaza will be in five-star raids and the Timed Research for the week will offer the chance to encounter Deino.
Ultra Unlock week two is known as Enigma Week. From August 7 until August 14 Staryu, Jigglypuff, Clefairy, Lunatone, Solrock, Baltoy, Bronzor, and Elgyem will appear more in the wild. Cleffa, Igglybuff, Lunatone, Solrock, and Elgyem will hatch from 7km Eggs. In five-star raids Bronzong, Claydol, Bronzong, Elgyem, and Unown U, L, T, R, and A will make an appearance.
Finally, week three is known as Unova Week. From August 14 until August 21, this week will see Unova Pokemon Sewaddle, Cottonee, Emolga, and Bouffalant make their debut in the game, with Bouffalant only being available in New York City and surrounding areas.
When's the next Pokémon Go Community Day?
- What date is the next Community Day? August 8
- Who's the starring Pokémon? Magikarp
Niantic has announced that the next Pokémon Go Community Day will take place on August 8 and the starring Pokémon will be water-type Magikarp.
Between 11am and 5pm local time on this date, Magikarp will appear in the wild more often. Those who evolve a Gyarados during the event or two hours after it will get the special move Aqua Tail.
To make things easier for players unable to travel a great distance, there'll be a one-time-purchase Community Day Box in the store with 30 Ultra Balls, an Elite Charged TM, six star pieces and an incense.
Players will also be able to purchase a Community Day-exclusive Special Research story for $1/£1 called Making a Splash.
As far as bonuses during the event, Eggs will have triple Catch Stardust and incense will last for three hours.
Pokémon Go update: what's next?
Now that Go Battle League has arrived in Pokémon Go, Niantic has ticked another big promised feature off its list. At the moment, we're not sure what's next for the game aside from, naturally, new Pokémon being added. We'll update here when the roadmap becomes more clear.
- Check out the best and weirdest Pokémon Go stories so far
Pokémon Go Plus deals
Want to buy yourself a Pokémon Go Plus wearable? Check some of today's best deals down below.
(Image credits: Niantic/Pokémon Company)
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