We asked Michael Steranka from Niantic why so few new Pokémon have appeared in the wild in Pokémon GO in 2024. In the interview, he talks about how Pokémon GO releases new monsters and where improvements might be necessary.
Who is speaking? Michael Steranka is the “Director Live Game” for Pokémon GO and regularly discusses topics such as new features and current developments related to the game.
This is the topic: MeinMMO met Steranka during the GO Fest Madrid 2024 for an interview. One of the issues that has been on players’ minds this year is the fact that Pokémon GO released only a single monster in the wild for many months in 2024: Schligda, which appeared as part of the Biome Update.
Other new Pokémon appeared only through special research, raids, eggs, or special evolutions, as trainers noted on reddit a few weeks ago. For trainers who prefer to go outside and just look for new monsters in the wild, this is unfortunate.
Therefore, we asked Steranka: Why have so few new Pokémon appeared in the wild in 2024? And will that change?
“We want to improve in that regard”: Michael Steranka from Pokémon GO on new releases
This is what Steranka says: Essentially, according to the Director, Niantic tries to find a way for each new Pokémon to shine a bit when it appears: “When we think about how to release new Pokémon in the game, we always try to consider: How can we do justice to this Pokémon?” says Steranka. “How can we release this Pokémon in a way that it can shine and be highlighted?”
It fits that Schligda was released with the biome release and its special property of only being found at the beach.
However, Steranka admits: “I believe we went a bit too long in the first months of this year without releasing new Pokémon because we didn’t have those natural moments or opportunities we could dive into,” says the Director.
For trainers who simply want to go out and search for new Pokémon, it is important to be able to find new Pokémon. However, that is supposed to improve in the future: “That’s something we want to correct and adjust. Because we know that this is a very important part of the game for many players, including myself. And we want people to feel that excitement regularly,” explains the Director.
More motivation and opportunities for collectors in Pokémon GO?
Collecting is an important point for many players. But precisely because it is so important, Niantic also has to consider how to deal with the opportunities it has: “Another thing I want to address is that there is only a limited number of Pokémon that appear in the main series games. We have thought a lot at Niantic about: ‘What happens when all Pokémon have been released in Pokémon GO?’ What comes next?” says Steranka.
The Director did not want to reveal concrete plans, but explains: “We are thinking about it and have put a lot of energy into figuring out: What is the next hunt, the next exciting thing that can excite and motivate collectors?”
This next “exciting thing” should not only come into the game when we reach the point where all previously unreleased Pokémon have been used up: “We want to introduce new exciting things beforehand. On the way there. We don’t see this as sequential steps but want to present exciting things when they are ready.”
We are definitely excited about what the future holds for trainers in Pokémon GO and hope for more releases of new Pokémon in the wild. What do you think about this topic? Tell us in the comments! And if you want to know what is happening next in the game: Here you can find all events of Pokémon GO in June 2024.
