Pokemon Go game changes to promote "adventure from home" during COVID-19

[brightknightie]

Hi, fellow trainers!

In case you haven't heard, given the current public health situation, Pokemon Go has done a lot to encourage solo play, rural play, and general "adventure from home" play. Learn more on Niantic's official blog or Niantic's Support Twitter account.

Lowlights: People may be disappointed to hear that March's Abra Community Day has been postponed, and that no more EX passes will be distributed until further notice.

Highlights:

• In the shop, buy a one-time-only (one per player) box of 30 incense for 1 pokecoin!


• Incense now lasts for one hour and spawns more total pokemon (they come faster).


• Go Battle League no longer requires walking to unlock play!


• The current legendaries are available as Go Battle League rewards (not guaranteed, just added to the pool with the others; I got a Giratina A. as a reward last night!).


• Eggs newly placed in incubators will hatch in half the usual distance.


• Pokestops drop gifts more often (so we can all give each other resources more easily).


• Wild pokemon spawns increase.

Stay safe out there, trainers! Take good care of yourselves and our whole community. To "flatten the curve," raid from 6 feet apart, or from inside a car, if you can...? ♥

Comments

[spectrier]

I imagine the Liverpool safari zone will also be postponed, barring some massive developments happening this month.

The spawn rates on the incense are great! I really do wish they'd put some kind of measure in place to let people consistently get pokeballs without finding a stop because gifts aren't guaranteed to have them.

Having said that, I live close enough to a stop to consistently get gifts from home so if anyone here wants gifts to keep themselves stocked I'm very happy to add you!

[ayebydan]

II have the virus and am starting to lose it so this was a game-changer to know! I've already replayed sun and started pearl over again amongst other things as my mind can't cope with anything much more complex right now.

[silveradept]

About the only thing that would be perfect indoor play is if you had a once-a-day stop spawn where you are to get spun, so you could theoretically keep all your streaks going.

[lilacsigil]

Yay, this is great! I'm a healthcare worker so I'm going to be at work unless I actually catch the virus, but I'm looking forward to adventuring from home and from the car! And my work has a pokestop!

[kirin]

Niantic also recently confirmed that the upcoming paid Genesect quest line will be entirely playable from home, no raids or even spins required.

[leela_cat]

Just joined pokestop (thanks for all the pointers, brightknightie). I've recently started playing and need some more friends. I'm close to a park with 3 gyms and 5 pokestops, so can gift regularly (usually daily, although I sometimes miss a day because of work).

If anyone would like to friend me on Pokemon Go, my trainer code is: 3448 9977 8098.