The hype around the friends and trading feature has suddenly dropped for many Pokémon GO trainers. After all, not everyone can use it at this time.
What’s new? The trading and friends features in Pokémon GO were slowly rolled out on the evening of June 21. Many trainers were looking forward to this, as there has been no way to trade monsters or make friends in the game since its release 2 years ago.
Why the bad mood? The developers of Pokémon GO, Niantic, decided to first unlock the new features only for trainers who have already reached level 40. Since this was not communicated beforehand and trainers with lower levels must now wait, disappointment spread. In the meantime, trainers starting from level 30 are also included.
Players wished for better communication
Typical approach: That Niantic does not immediately release the function for all trainers is understandable. Such large features are first tested with a smaller audience, and it likely saves server resources. Additionally, level 40 players received a reward for their efforts by being able to test the new features first.
Niantic explains what’s going on: On Twitter, Niantic’s support wrote that initially only players with level 40 are allowed to test the new functions. After that, the features will also be released for other trainers.
Level 30+ is now included: A few hours later, the Twitter account of Pokémon GO explained that players from level 30 can now also use the function.
What happens now? Now Niantic is first checking the data they collect from the level 30 and 40 players to see if everything is in order. Gradually, the friends and trading features will also be released for other trainers.
When can everyone use the features? This is still unclear. Depending on how many or how few problems there are with the new functions, we expect that in the next few hours, every trainer will be able to trade and add friends. Update: In the meantime, all trainers from level 10 can use the new features, provided they are at least 13 years old.
On one hand, it is understandable that many trainers are now frustrated. One would have hoped for better communication from Niantic beforehand to explain that there would be a rollout in this way. However, one should now look positively towards the coming days, as the features are not far away.
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