In Pokémon GO, the exploration of the world is set to be more in focus again. At the same time, Niantic is rolling back bonuses that were introduced during the Corona crisis. Read here everything about the testing of the changes.
What’s new: Niantic wants to encourage trainers to move more outdoors again. Therefore, they want to make playing outside more attractive and focus on exploring new areas.
At the same time, popular bonuses that have been established in PoGO since 2020 are being gradually rolled back. Many of the bonuses were introduced to allow playing even during the global pandemic.
According to the announcement, Niantic is aware that the Corona crisis is not yet over and will continuously review and individually adjust all changes presented in this article should measures be necessary.
Then it’s time: At the end of July 2021, Niantic will begin testing the first exploration bonuses.
However, the changes will initially only be tested in New Zealand and the United States – only later will these changes come to us in Europe.
The test will initially run until September 1 – so until the end of the Season of Discovery. Additionally, the new bonuses will be introduced gradually over several months, and old bonuses will be slowly phased out. But not before the Go Fest 2021 – so you don’t have to worry about any changes at the event.
Several Corona bonuses will disappear
There are not only new bonuses; the bonuses introduced in the last 15 months are also changing. However, it will not be exactly like before the pandemic, as many trainers have gotten used to the bonuses.
These bonuses will disappear:
- The effectiveness of incense when not moving will be reset to its original value before 2020. If you move, the incense will have a boosted effect.
- Your buddy will bring you gifts less frequently per day. The high frequency was meant to help everyone who couldn’t leave their homes.
- The distance from which you can interact with stops and gyms will be reset to the value of 2020. Niantic plans to implement this change only “where it makes sense” and does not rule out that the distance may be increased at events.
These bonuses will remain: You won’t have to forgo any beloved bonuses from the pandemic. The following bonuses will remain:
- The first catch of the day still grants you 3x as much Stardust and XP
- The duration of incense remains at 60 minutes
- The GO Battle League and battles against trainers do not require steps – this remains as it is now
- You can still carry up to 20 gifts in your bag.
- Trainers are allowed to open up to 30 gifts a day
- Additionally, more permanent bonuses remain, which Niantic does not explicitly list
These bonuses are coming: New bonuses are meant to make outdoor exploration appealing and rewarding again. Niantic speaks of the following bonuses:
- Spinning PokéStops grants more bonuses
- By spinning gyms, you can receive up to 2 raid passes per day
- Participating in raids without a remote raid pass should be more rewarding
- If you spin a stop for the first time, you will receive 10 times the XP
- Incense works stronger when you move after activation
- Bonuses for steps taken
- These are not all bonuses, but just a preview
- Additionally, EX-raids are likely to return in the future
Trainers call it a “huge mistake”
This is how the community reacts: In the Pokémon GO subreddit, some of the changes are causing dissatisfaction.
Especially the reduced distance for interacting with stops and raids directly upsets trainers. A corresponding thread, which calls the changes a “huge mistake” (via reddit), has already gathered over 16,000 upvotes in 7 hours, and trainers are discussing it in over 700 comments.
However, even outside the large threads, players are angry:
- It has been said that the increased distance was the reason why some trainers started playing Pokémon GO again (via reddit). Here, it is stated that Niantic should make the game more inviting for trainers instead of making it worse.
- Others see it more pragmatically: The increased distance has finally prevented unauthorized access to properties. They say it is a bad idea from Niantic to remove this feature now (via reddit)
- Others are pleading with Niantic, “please, please, please keep the distance as it is now” (via reddit)
It is clear that players have gotten used to the increased distance and do not want to give it up anymore. And for good reason, as it has solved several problems that are now becoming relevant again.
MeinMMO will keep you updated about the new and old bonuses. Have you gotten used to the conveniences and feel sorry that Niantic is removing some of them? Are you looking forward to finally searching for monsters more outdoors again? Let us know in the comments.
