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‘Pokémon Go’ anniversary events to take place in real life worldwide
Pokémon Go is coming up on its one year anniversary and Niantic is planning a major celebration. Events are scheduled around the world but the biggest will be Pokémon Go Fest taking place in Chicago on July 22nd. There aren't many details about the event just yet other than that it will take place in the city's Grant Park.
'Pokémon Go' adds creatures from 'Gold' and 'Silver' this week
If the seasonal events Niantic Labs has added to Pokemon Go haven't been enough to keep you playing, maybe 80 new pocket monsters will. Specifically, those from the Johto region from Pokemon Gold and Silver. These additions were rumored prior, but now they're official. More than just offering monsters like Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile for capture, the game's latest update refreshes a few other bits as well.
AR games like 'Pokémon Go' need a permit in Milwaukee
Pokémon hunting is apparently a messy business. The Milwaukee County Board passed an ordinance requiring the creators of location-based augmented reality games like Pokémon Go obtain permits before using parks as in-game landmarks. Since it specifically targets game makers, it won't keep Pokémon players out of the parks, but it sets ground rules for developers who want to use them in their games.
'Pokémon Go' is available right now on the Apple Watch
Pokémon Go has made its way to the Apple Watch, enabling trainers to receive notifications right on their wrists about nearby Pokémon, PokéStops, eggs and medals. Players are even able to collect goodies from PokéStops directly via the Apple Watch. This latest version of Pokémon Go also lets users log each gameplay session as a workout that counts toward their Apple Watch Activity rings, and it displays the distance traveled toward hatching an egg and receiving Candy for Buddy Pokémon.
'Pokémon Go' is live in India and South Asia
Pokémon Go has expanded to a new region about once a month, launching in Southeast Asia and Oceania back in August, parts of the Balkans and Central Asia in September and some of the Middle East in November. Today, the game is finally opening in India and these South Asian countries: Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
New 'Pokémon Go' creatures include a limited edition Pikachu
Niantic promised more creatures in Pokémon Go on December 12th, and it's delivering... with an interesting twist. It's not only adding "several" new critters from the Pokémon Gold and Silver games (such as Pichu and Togepi), but also releasing a limited edition holiday Pikachu. The Santa cap-wearing creature is available "all over the world," but only until December 29th at 1PM Eastern. If you don't find one by then, you're out of luck.
Starbucks locations are now 'Pokémon Go' Gyms or Pokéstops
We knew a Starbucks collaboration with Pokémon Go was on the way, but now it's official. Niantic, the developer of the massively popular augmented reality game, revealed today that around 7,800 Starbucks coffee shops in the US have been turned into Gyms or Pokéstops. Aside from this, since these are sponsored locations after all, trainers can also pick up a special Pokémon Go Frappuccino drink. And, just like you can do at Sprint stores now, you'll have access to a charging station too.
Sprint stores are PokéStops and Gyms for 'Pokémon Go'
As rumored, Niantic is bringing brand partnerships to its hit augmented reality game, Pokémon Go. The software developer has announced that Sprint will have the first sponsored locations in the US, with more than 10,500 stores expected to be turned into PokéStops and Gyms. It's worth nothing this doesn't only include Sprint's namesake shops, but also those from Boost Mobile and RadioShack -- which are owned by the carrier. These spaces will feature in-store charging stations too, in case your smartphone can't keep up with all your quests.
'Pokémon Go' may get 100 new Pokémon this week (updated)
Pokémon Go is about to get bigger, according to a handful of Starbucks employee guides that found their way online early this week. The images have not been verified by Niantic, the Pokémon Company or Starbucks, but Reddit sleuths claim that verified Starbucks employees have vouched for their veracity. "The world of Pokémon Go is about to expand with new Pokémon and a new Starbucks beverage!" the "Barista need-to-know" guide says. The flyers indicate that Pokémon Go's second generation will kick off on Thursday, December 8th.
Pokémon Go expands 'Nearby' test areas, rolls out daily bonuses
Every time there's a Pokémon Go update, the number one thing its remaining players ask about is access to a tracker to help locate the little critters. This weekend Niantic Labs announced it's expanding the test area of its Nearby Pokémon feature from San Francisco to parts of Arizona, Seattle and the rest of the Bay Area. While we wait for that to roll out nation and world-wide, an update that adds the previously-announced daily bonus/streak bonus scheme is about to arrive on Android and iOS.
'Pokémon Go' will keep users hooked with daily bonuses
Now that Halloween is over, the folks at Niantic Labs have cooked up a new bonus scheme to keep players coming back for more. The next update to Pokémon Go will make it easier to rack up more XP, items and Stardust if you catch a Pokémon or visit a PokéStop every day.
'Pokémon Go' offering spooky bonuses for Halloween
If there's one thing our (fictional) mom always told us, it's that we shouldn't go out walking at night with our smartphone on show. The folks at Niantic Labs feel differently, and think that poorly lit Fall nights around Halloween are the perfect time for everyone to catch some pocket monsters. The company is launching its first "global in-game event" to encourage Pokémon Go players to go out and catch some spooky 'mons.
Casual 'Pokémon Go' trainers now have a fighting chance
Pokémon Go players know if their pocket monster is a 'catch' and can even have one of them scurry behind your avatar. The latest update is aimed at balancing the in-game battles, giving the Pidgeottos and Mr. Mimes of the world a (slightly) better chance against the constant armies of Dragonites and Snorlaxes resident in most Pokémon gyms. Not only will trainers be be able to bring six Pokémon to training fights against your own team, the CP (Combat Points) of rival Pokémon will be nerfed to match your own battle level. However, Niantic Labs says that the CP ranking "may" be lowered, suggesting it may not always be the case.
'Pokémon Go' will add catch bonuses to make the grind worthwhile
As Niantic Labs keeps tweaking things to hold onto its Pokémon Go player base, it has revealed another new feature coming to the augmented reality game. Currently, player activities like catching Pokémon can level them up towards earning medals that toss off points, but not much else. Soon, there will be a catch bonus for earned medals that level up based on the type of Pokémon caught.
The Pokémon Go Plus bracelet is great for grinding
My Pokémon Go survival kit keeps growing. It started simply enough, with just my iPhone 6 Plus happily running Pokémon Go, but it quickly became apparent that I would need backup battery power in order to comfortably catch digital monsters for extended periods of time. After all, this is a game that takes players away from their outlets and into the great wilds of the real world, so I shoved a portable power pack and cable into my purse. I happen to live in Arizona, so I soon added an icy water bottle to the mix. Now, with the launch of Pokémon Go Plus, my kit also includes a lanyard bracelet, a plastic vibrating teardrop painted like a Poké Ball and a tiny screwdriver. I'm starting to suspect Ash Ketchum was hiding more than hair under his iconic hat.
The 'Pokémon Go' buddy system is now live and dropping candy
Like an egg you've been walking for too long, Pokémon Go's previously announced Buddy system arrives today with the latest update from Niantic Labs. To add an interesting new dynamic to the game, Trainers can now pick one Pokémon from their collection as their "Buddy." Once you've picked your best PokéBud, that creature will start to drop extra candy that can be used for evolving and powering up the other creatures in your inventory.
$35 Pokémon Go Plus accessory will go on sale September 16th
Pokémon Go players will have their choice of accessories soon, since the Pokémon Go Plus accessory will be available September 16th "in most countries." Earlier today the game's makers reported over 500 million downloads and announced a way to play using the Apple Watch. Now, Niantic says this $35 device will make playing possible "without having to look at your screen all the time." It links to your phone with Bluetooth Low Energy, letting players collect items from nearby Pokéstops or catch Pokémon with the press of a button.
Des Moines' city council is trying to 'opt out' of 'Pokémon Go'
The City Council of Des Moines, Washington is working hard to cut down on its residents' access to Pokémon Go, even going so far as to make attempts to "opt out" of the game.
Pokémon Go is getting a buddy system
Despite its initial success, Pokémon Go has been struggling to maintain its popularity. The game's active users have shrunk by more than 10 million from its mid-July peak, which makes keeping the remaining players engaged that much more important for developer Niantic Labs. The studio is introducing a new feature in the form of a buddy system that might add an interesting dynamic to the game.
Niantic is reversing bans on some 'Pokémon Go' accounts
Pokémon Go players who felt they were wrongly banned might get a reprieve. That's because developer Niantic has said that in its quest to block bots and data scrapers, some people who used third-party map apps to locate the virtual critters were wrongly blocked.
