COVID-19 pandemic

This article records all the actions taken by Niantic in Pokémon GO due to the global pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Initially, the changes to events only affected players in Japan, South Korea, and Italy. Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic continuously increased through early 2020, leading Niantic to make decisions affecting global Trainers.

Changes to Items, Features, and Bonuses that are now part of standard gameplay

Increased distance from which Trainers can interact with Gyms and PokéStops

• Increased distance from which Trainers can interact with Gyms and PokéStops

The number of Gifts Trainer can carry is increased to 20

• The number of Gifts Trainer can carry is increased to 20

Open up to 30 Gifts per day, up from the previous 20

• Open up to 30 Gifts per day, up from the previous 20

Incense lasts for 1 hour, rather than the previous 30 minute duration

• Incense lasts for 1 hour, rather than the previous 30 minute duration

3× Stardust and XP for for first Pokémon catch of the day

• 3× Stardust and XP for for first Pokémon catch of the day

No walking requirement for GO Battle League

• No walking requirement for GO Battle League

Challenge any Trainer to battle remotely with a QR Code

• Challenge any Trainer to battle remotely with a QR Code

Trainers can battle remotely with Good Friends (1 heart). Previously, this was only possible with Ultra Friends (3 hearts) and Best Friends (4 hearts).

• Trainers can battle remotely with Good Friends (1 heart). Previously, this was only possible with Ultra Friends (3 hearts) and Best Friends (4 hearts).

Remote Raid available

• Remote Raid available

Play Where You Are

Niantic published a site with motto Play Where You Are that included tips and notices about in-game features that are being changed and adjusted to allow Trainers playing at home. The website is available at: https://pokemongolive.com/en/play-where-you-are/.

Early 2020

Feature changes

On March 12^th, 2020, Niantic announced a blog about couple of updates of gameplay experience and global events.

• Abra Community Day was postponed from March 15^th to April 25^th.
• Egg Incubator is 2 times faster
• Double duration of Incense with 50% discount, the spawn rate has been increased to 1 Pokémon per minute. This also includes the Meltan Mystery Box making it even easier to get Melmetal.
• PokéStops drop Gifts more frequently
• Pokémon habitats increase and more Pokémon are appearing in the wild

On March 23^rd, 2020, Niantic announced more updates.

• 3× Stardust and XP for the first Pokémon catch of the day
• Daily open Gifts increased to 30
• Gift inventory increased to 20

Since March 31^st, 2020, the distance for interaction with Gyms has been temporarily doubled, being able to spin the Photo Disc, participate Gym and Raid Battles. Since April 27^th, 2020, the distance bonus is applied to PokéStops too.

Since April, 2020, Remote Raid passes were available.

Raid Battles

Following Raid Battles were adjusted:

• Cobalion was available from March 17^th to 31^st (originally from 20^th to 23^rd, then 17^th to 23^rd only)
• Also applied to reward of GO Battle League
• Lugia raid was canceled
• Invites for EX Raid Battles were halted
• Legendary Raid Hour was canceled from March 18^th until May 6^th

Trainer Battles

Following measures are taken when the Season 1 of GO Battle League started:

• Do not require walking or PokéCoins to unlock battle sets in GO Battle League
• Trainers can send challenge invites to their Good Friends, which normally required to be at least Ultra Friends

Research tasks

• Select Field Research tasks that could be difficult to finish from home are removed.
• Shadow Entei was extended to the end of April.

Shop special offer

There is a one-time purchase special offer for 30 Incenses in the shop regarding to this pandemic.

On March 23^rd, 2020, Niantic announced the 1 PokéCoin bundles will be changed weekly.

Visit List of shop special offers and promotions/2020 for a complete list.

On April 6^th, 2020, Niantic released a game code "EMRK2EZWLVSSZDC5" to give player 8 Poké Balls, 4 Golden Razz Berries and 4 Silver Pinap Berries. It was active until April 10^th.

On April 25^th, 2020, the Abra Community Day, Niantic released a game code "MDWC4SNGUFXS2SW9" to give player 20 Great Balls and 20 Razz Berries. It was active until April 26^th.

Japan, South Korea, and Italy

Addition measures are taken in these three countries since March 2^nd:

• Trainers in the above countries can enjoy double duration of Incense with 50% discount.
• Do not require walking or PokéCoins to unlock battle sets in GO Battle League
  • Receive more Rare Candies and have higher chance to encounter Scraggy and Legendary Pokémon

Raid Battles

Following Raid Battles were canceled:

• Nidorino and Gengar Raid Day in Pokémon Day 2020
• Darkrai
• Registeel and Cresselia as well as strong Pokémon in Trainer Battle like Skarmory, Swampert and Shieldon
• Giratina

Events

From March 2^nd to 19^th, the following events were canceled:

• Pokémon Spotlight Hour
• Legendary Raid Hour
• Mystery Bonus Hour
• Team GO Rocket Global Take-over

The event-exclusive Pokémon appearing in raids and in the wild of GO Battle League Season 1 Launch Celebration did not occur, but event bonuses still applied.

Late 2020

In late September, Niantic announced updates to temporary bonuses. The following bonuses were modified after October 1^st, 2020.

• Hatch distance returns to normal
• Increased effectiveness of Incense applied only while walking
• Buddy Pokémon brought Gifts only when the Trainer nearly runs out, only once a day
• Gift is not guaranteed from spinning PokéStops

The following features were announced to be permanent:

• Gift inventory at 20
• 3× Stardust and XP for the first Pokémon catch of the day
• 1-hour Incense duration

On November 19^th, 2020, Niantic announced the return of the following bonuses to at least June 2021:

• Increased effectiveness of Incense
• Buddy Pokémon brings more Gifts each day, up to five gifts at once and up to three times a day

2021 onwards

On May 24^th, 2021 announced the return of in person experiences.

On August 1^st, 2021 Niantic updated standard gameplay changes to include additional updates added as part of the Exploration Bonus Updates (U.S. and New Zealand):

• Receive up to two free Raid Passes per day from spinning Gym Photo Discs.
• Benefit from increased Incense effectiveness while moving.
• Be guaranteed gifts when spinning PokéStops so long as they have not reached their maximum gift inventory.
• Receive 10x bonus XP from spinning a PokéStop for the first time.

On August 17^th, 2021, removed New Zealand from receiving Exploration Bonuses.

On August 25^th, 2021, removed the PokéStop and Gym interaction radius change from Exploration Bonuses and on 26^th moved it from temporary change to standard gameplay.

Starting September 1^st, 2021, all bonuses were set globally and connected to the current Season in Pokémon GO. These bonuses change at the beginning of each new Season, however some bonuses may roll over from Season-to-Season.

On October, 2021, the ability to invite friends to raids were implemented.

On March 30^th, 2023 Niantic announced a nerf to Remote Raids. The price of remote raid passes were increased and a limit of five Remote Raids per day was set. The player Community answered with the HearUsNiantic movement highly criticizing the nerf. Niantic did not addressed the movement directly, but stated that will not revert the nerf.

Events

Pokémon GO Safari Zones in St. Louis, Liverpool and Philadelphia were postponed. City explorer in St. Louis was canceled.

From April 2020 to March 2022 the Community Day has been named Community Day: Play at Home Edition featuring new bonuses, Special Researches, event duration and time.

GO Fest 2020 and GO Fest 2021 were entirely virtual. Pokémon GO Tour: Live in Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi, scheduled for February 2022 was also cancelled, while the Live event in Monterrey, Mexico and Kaohsiung, Taiwan were held as normal.

Trivia

• After the Gym distance update, a bug was causing PokéStops to appear as though they are within interactable distance when they were not. They were spinable but only message "Try again later." displayed.