Loading screens

The loading screen (or splash screen) is the first thing players see while logging into the Pokémon GO – following the developer and publisher information screens. It is changed from time to time and may represent newly added game feature or ongoing event.

Some of loading screen artworks had various Easter-eggs and references hidden in them.

Original

 * Period of use
 * July - October, 2016.


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Gyarados

It is the very first loading screen, used since the game release. It shows male Trainer on the bridge and Gyarados. Whole design of the graphic seems simplistic, flat and might be made as vector graphic prior the using in the game.
 * Artwork description

Halloween 2016

 * Period of use
 * October - December, 2016.


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Gengar

Loading screen graphic was changed for the first time in October 2016 for the Halloween event – the first ever event in Pokémon GO. This loading screen introduced more artwork theme of the graphics for splash screen. It shows male trainer and Gengar in purple glowing tree hollow, also out-of-range PokéStop can be seen in background.
 * Artwork description

Holiday 2016

 * Period of use
 * December -, 2016


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Pikachu wearing a festive hat, Eevee, Snorlax, Clefairy and Squirtle

For Holiday event in 2016 there was yet another loading screen graphic introduced. For the first time it included more than one Pokémon and female Trainer. This loading screen shows PokéStop being decorated with Christmas lights that are powered by Pikachu in holiday hat. Also there are Snorlax, Eevee and Squirtle standing next to the PokéStop and Clefairy on the ladder leaning against the PokéStop.
 * Artwork description

The artwork for this loading screen was a bit different prior to update 0.51.0 that was released on December, 2016. The female Trainer had more cartoonish silhouette, there was no pink aura across the background and the Christmas lights were hung around PokéStop the different way. This artwork is presented on left.

New Year's Eve 2016

 * Period of use
 * December, 2016 - April , 2017


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Cleffa, Pichu, Igglybuff, Togepi and Elekid

Graphic artwork of loading screen for New Year's Eve in 2016 shows colourful, bright fireworks exploding in the sky. In the foreground there are four Baby Pokémon standing forward these fireworks, these Pokémon are Cleffa,Pichu, Igglybuff and Togepi. There is also trainer seen to the left in the background with Elekid standing by his side. This is the first, in the game, loading screen to feature Johto-region Pokémon.
 * Artwork description

Spring 2017

 * Period of use
 * April - June, 2017


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Steelix

After New Year's Eve 2016 loading screen being displayed for over three months, it was replaced with Spring themed one. It shows female Trainer on the scenery with green plains under bright blue sky, where she is walking towards Steelix that emerged from the ground destroying flat, green surface. In the background to the right from the trainer one PokéStop can be seen. This splash screen refers to newly introduced Johto-region Pokémon in the February, 2017.
 * Artwork description

Raid Battles

 * Period of use
 * June - October, 2017


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Pikachu, Tyranitar, Squirtle, Cyndaquil, Sneasel and Hoppip

Loading screen was changed again in summer 2017 with the new gyms system and Raid Battles being introduced to the game. It is the first loading screen to feature more than one Trainer silhouettes &mdash; two male and two female Trainers. Each of them is staying around the field where Tyranitar Raid Boss is being attacked by Squirtle, Pikachu, Cyndaquil, Hoppip and Sneasel. The whole action shown in this loading screen takes place at night on the stadium.
 * Artwork description

Halloween 2017

 * Period of use
 * October - November, 2017


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Gengar, Dusclops, Banette, Murkrow, Sableye, Duskull, Shuppet, three Zubat and Caterpie

Loading screen was changed for the second in-game Halloween event. It was the first loading screen to feature Hoenn-region Pokémon, such as: Sableye, Shuppet, Banette, Duskull and Dusclops. These Pokémon along with Murkrow surround Gengar, with all standing on the hill in light of the large moon. There are also three Zubat flying over other Pokémon and a Caterpie can be seen on sitting on one of the pumpkins in the bottom part of the graphic. Additionally, there is male trainer wearing Mimikyu hat standing in the pumpkin field.
 * Artwork description

Holiday 2017

 * Period of use
 * December, 2017 - January , 2018


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Plusle, Minun, Spheal, Mudkip, Skitty, Delcatty, Ralts, Kirlia, eight Seedot, Beautifly, Shroomish and Wingull

During Holiday season in 2017, there was another loading screen that featured female trainer wearing winter had and plenty of Pokémon from Hoenn region. In the foreground there are Plusle, Minun, Spheal, Mudkip, Skitty, Delcatty, Ralts and Kirlia among holiday gifts. There are also six Seedot under the Christmas tree and two more on twigs, as well as a Shroomish. Moreover, there are Wingull and Beautifly flying around the tree with red decoration ribbons &mdash; Wingull however was not released to the game until January 2018. At the top of the Christmas tree there is a Star Piece.
 * Artwork description

New Year 2018

 * Period of use
 * January, 2018 - March , 2018


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Pikachu, Wurmple wearing a party hat, Torchic, Treecko, Mudkip, Larvitar, Wynaut, Azurill, Slakoth, Milotic, Loudred, Furret, Bulbasaur, Cleffa, Pichu, Igglybuff and Togepi

New Year 2018 splash screen features multiple, mainly Hoenn-region Pokémon, including three Hoenn-region Starters and Baby Pokémon. In the foreground, there are jumping Pikachu with Torchic and Wurmple that is wearing party hat. In the background there is a male trainer with Treecko and Larvitar near him, and behind them there is large, glowing 2018 sign. There are Azurill, Wynaut and Mudkip cheerfully standing in front of the sign.
 * Artwork description

In the '2' number there are four Baby Pokémon from Johto region, that are reference to 2016 New Year's Eve loading screen, where they stand with each other in the same order and are watching fireworks. On the '2' number there is Bulbasaur with his vine whips exposed. In the '0' number there is lying Slakoth and there is Loudred standing on the '1' number. There are also, Milotic on the '8' number and Furret within this number. Behind the 2018 sign there are bright, vivid, pink fireworks.

The Party Hat Wurmple has become massively popular with the fans hoping it would be added. It was officially released in Hatchathon 2020.

Research

 * Period of use
 * March - June, 2018


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Pikachu, Mew, Arbok, Teddiursa, Butterfree and Weedle

Spring 2018 splash screen features Professor Willow standing on the rock, with Pikachu on his shoulder. There can be seen Mew flying in the background. This splash screen refers to introduction of Research tasks feature and debut of Mew – the first Mythical Pokémon in Pokémon GO.
 * Artwork description

Summer 2018

 * Period of use
 * June - December, 2018


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Ivysaur, four Alolan Diglett, Alolan Dugtrio, Wailmer, Alolan Raichu, two Wingull, Alolan Exeggutor and Bellossom

This summer-themed splash screen features Alolan forms that were released to the game at the beginning of summer 2018.
 * Artwork description

Trainer Battles

 * Period of use
 * December - December, 2018


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Electivire and Lucario

This splash screen features Trainer Battle between Electivire and Lucario. It is the first and so far only splash screen in December, not to feature Holiday nor snow theme.
 * Artwork description

New Year 2019

 * Period of use
 * December, 2018 - February , 2019


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Electivire, Lucario, Pikachu, Eevee, Spoink, Grumpig and Swinub

This splash screen is a direct follow-up to the previous loading screen, featuring Electivire and Lucario from the Trainer Battle. It also includes Spoink and Grumping which refer to Lunar New Year 2019, which was beginning of Chinese Year of the Pig, there is also Swinub in far background which was featured in February 2019 Community Day and there are Pikachu and Eevee in the foreground which might be reference to Pokémon Let's Go release in November of previous year. All these Pokémon, with male and female Trainers are standing towards the bright fireworks show with 2019 number being formed from fireworks on the night sky.
 * Artwork description

Spring 2019

 * Period of use
 * February, 2019 - June, 2019


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Smeargle, Mr. Mime, Luxio, two Bibarel, Turtwig, Staraptor and two unidentified bird Pokémon

Spring loading screen features male Trainer taking a snapshot of female Trainer with Mr. Mime and photobombing Smeargle that was released to the Pokémon GO that time along with new game feature – GO Snapshot. In background several Sinnoh-region Pokémon can be noticed including Turtwig, Luxio, two Bibarel. In the sky, there is Staraptor flying along with two other bird Pokémon whose silhouettes are only visible.
 * Artwork description

Summer 2019

 * Period of use
 * June, 2019 - October, 2019


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Azelf, Uxie, Mesprit, Finneon, Corsola, Mantyke, Psyduck, Sealeo, Gible and Wailmer

The summer splash screen in 2019 features variety of Water-type Pokémon on the stony coast along with Lake Guardians Pokémon flying around. There is also female Trainer sitting on the rock accompanied by Gible and Uxie. This is the first loading screen to feature Legendary Pokémon.
 * Artwork description

Fall 2019

 * Period of use
 * October, 2019


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Shadow Pokémon, including: Charizard, Houndoom, Mawile, Scizor, Meowth, Arcanine, Dragonair, Golbat, Absol and Tyranitar

Loading screen themed for Halloween in 2019 featured variety of Shadow Pokémon, Team GO Rocket Leaders and Giovanni in front of, what players suspect, a Viridian Gym building. There is also a male Trainer directed towards Team GO Rocket and he is holding a Poké Ball. In the background there is a night scenery of city with plenty of skyscrapers. There are fallen leaves on the ground in front of the Trainer, which gives an autumnal theme to the artwork.
 * Artwork description

Holiday 2019

 * Period of use
 * November, 2019 - January, 2020
 * January - March, 2020


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Snorlax, Oshawott, two Piplup, Psyduck, Eevee, Pikachu with Best Buddy ribbon and winter cap, Munchlax, Cubchoo, Beartic, Sudowoodo, two winter Deerling and winter Sawsbuck

This loading screen for the first time includes Unova-region Pokémon and it features Snorlax with Pikachu, Eevee, Psyduck, Cubchoo, Munchlax and female Trainer sledding. Two Piplup and Oshawott are sliding in front of them. In the background there can be seen startled Sudoowodo running away from Beartic and winter Sawsbuck accompanied by two Deerling – they were not released however yet.
 * Artwork description

New Year 2020

 * Period of use
 * First weeks of January, 2020


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Pikachu, Marill, Mightyena]], Axew, Nidorina, Quilava, Sewaddle, Tyranitar, Scolipede and Gible

There was temporal loading screen for a New Year 2020 which featured variety of different Pokémon along with male Trainer standing on snow covered cliffs, that were looking in direction of sun during break of dawn above the clouds.
 * Artwork description

Spring 2020

 * Period of use
 * March - July, 2020


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Seismitoad, Togetic, Sunshine Cherrim, Scolipede, Ralts, Joltik, Venipede and Sudowoodo

Spring splash screen featured a forest scenery with male Trainer looking up at Seismitoad climbing the tree and Togetic flying next to it. There are a couple of Bug-type Pokémon like Scolipede, Venipede and Joltik along with Ralts and Sunshine Cherrim among woods. There is also Sudowoodo hiding behind the rocks.
 * Artwork description

Summer 2020

 * Period of use
 * Since July, 2020


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Latias, Latios, Slugma, Braviary, Quagsire, Wailmer, Whimsicott, Wigglytuff, Chansey, Cacnea, Crustle and Meganium

Summer 2020 loading screen features residential neighborhood scenery with variety of different Pokémon and possible premise to Play at home, due to COVID-19 pandemic. There are Slugma and Braviary standing on the rooftop, in the foreground. In the first backyard there are Wailmer, Quagsire, Wigglytuff and Whimsicott playing in the pool with female Trainer sitting at its side. Chansey is walking on the yard's fence and in the second backyard there are male Trainer with Crustle and Meganium on the terrace and Cacnea walking on the lawn. There are also Latias and Latios flying above the neighbourhood and Team GO Rocket balloon can be noticed hovering in the sky, in the far background.
 * Artwork description

Fall 2020

 * Period of use
 * Since November, 2020


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Gastly, Gengar, Umbreon, Zweilous, Mandibuzz, Woobat, and Gothorita


 * Artwork description

Winter 2020

 * Period of use
 * Since December, 2020


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Mamoswine, Abomasnow, Obstagoon, Diggersby, Chespin, Quilladin, Snorunt, Spheal, Bunnelby, Stantler, Fennekin and Froakie


 * Artwork description

The screen features an icy mountain scenery with Mega Abomasnow rolling a snowball with Furret inside and Quilladin on top. Chespin and Fennekin are running next to Abomasnow. In the background, Obstagoon is rolling another snowball with Diggersby on top. We also see Stantler running, along with Mamoswine, Snorunt, Bunnelby and Spheal watcing from the distance.

New Year 2021

 * Period of use
 * January, 2021 - March 16, 2021


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Ho-Oh, Litleo, Pikachu, Fletchling and Greninja


 * Artwork description

Spring 2021

 * Period of use
 * Since March 16, 2021


 * Featured Pokémon
 * Kricketune, Buneary, Petilil, Whirlipede, Servine, Aromatisse, Pancham, Xerneas, Sylveon


 * Artwork description

Trivia

 * All graphic artworks for a loading screen are designed for proper displaying on mobile screens with various aspect ratios.
 * However, they do have presumed designated aspect ratio which allows for the best displaying proportions of elements featured in the artworks.
 * Initially, the designated aspect ratio of display would be 16:9 (ratio common for HD and Full HD resolutions). With New Year 2019 loading screen, the designated aspect ratio of display was changed to presumably 19.5:9 (ratio common for new models of iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones).

External pages

 * Pokémon GO page with loading screens on Serebii.net