The "go" part of Pokémon Go is proving challenging while many around the world stay home due to the coronavirus, officially named COVID-19. So Niantic is making sweeping changes to its mobile's game core gameplay functions so trainers can play from home.
The biggest change comes to Pokémon Go's new Go Battle League. Players no longer have to walk three kilometers to participate in the battle-focused feature. The Go Battle League allows trainers to take on other players from around the globe with a team of three Pokémon. Those that win four matches in a row will get a chance to catch a rare and legendary Pokémon.
But it's not just the Battle League that needs changes for Pokémon Go to remain viable. The in-game distance tracker, which was sometimes inaccurate at measuring the short distances of indoor travel since it uses GPS, will be updated so that it can track indoor steps more accurately than before. Players can also get rewarded with game achievements for using a treadmill or doing chores around the house. The in-game social features also get an upgrade that allows users to message friends and take on Raid Battles remotely rather than traveling to a specific location together.
Players' first Pokémon catch of the day in Pokémon Go will also earn three times the amount of experience and Stardust, and the app is expanding the number of gifts players can open and carry. New item bundles cost only one PokéCoin to purchase, and Poké Balls and incense, which lure Pokémon to your current location, are also deeply discounted in the in-game store. It currently costs $1 to get 100 PokéCoins and there are discounts for larger purchases.
The company was less specific when it came to how it will handle live events in the future, but Niantic ensured fans that it's "re-imagining" summer events. Niantic promised additional details soon and said that gamers will get a new way to participate in the yearly Pokémon Go fest. The developer is also looking to implement new ways for players to visit one another online and share memories about their favorite real-life locales.
Niantic previously canceled its Lugia Raid Week and Raid Hour and changed its "A Drive to Investigate!" event so it could be started anywhere. Niantic also lengthened the event duration so more players worldwide could play.
"We look forward to the day when we can return to the familiar places we dream about and once again safely play together with family and friends," Niantic said in a statement. "When the world is ready for that, we'll be ready too."
For the latest updates on the novel coronavirus outbreak, visit the World Health Organization's COVID-19 page.
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