Niantic announces Pokémon GO updates starting in July

After making tweaks in the mobile game to keep fans at home during the global pandemic, Niantic announced certain bonuses via Pokémon GO updates will be introduced, changed, kept or removed, starting in July for users in the US and New Zealand, the company announced today.

Because of the decline of new COVID-19 cases in both mentioned countries, Niantic announced the following changes:

New exploration bonuses for playing together in the real world

• 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.

The bonuses shown above will start at the end of July first for users in the United States and New Zealand. These exploration bonuses will come to an end on September 1st at the conclusion of the Season of Discovery. Some bonuses may be carried over to the next season, while new bonuses will become available.

Bonuses introduced last year that we plan to remove or change

• Over the past year, Incense effectiveness was increased to attract Pokémon to you more frequently, even if you weren’t able to leave home. After the change, this effectiveness will be set at the standard level when you’re stationary and increased effectiveness will kick in when you are moving.
• Previously, your Buddy Pokémon brought you more Gifts each day, up to five gifts at once and up to three times a day. This was because we knew Trainers were running low on supplies like Poké Balls and berries to help them catch Pokémon. As we move to encouraging Trainers to play outside more, they can continue to receive supplies from spinning PokéStops. After the change, the frequency of these gifts from Buddy Pokémon will be reduced.
• Previously, PokéStop and Gym interaction distances were increased, to enable people to engage from further away. After this change the distance will revert back to the standard distance, when it makes sense in different places, though may be increased during future events and as part of certain features.

These bonuses will be removed as a test first in the US and New Zealand starting at the end of the month of July. Changes may be made in other countries over time on a gradual basis.

Bonuses introduced last year that we are planning on keeping

• Incense duration will remain at 60 minutes.
• No walking requirement for GO Battle League.
• You can challenge any Trainer remotely with a QR Code, and the requirement to battle with friends remotely has been lowered to Good Friends.
• The maximum number of Gifts you can carry in your Item Bag at a time will remain at 20.
• Trainers will be able to open up to 30 Gifts per day, up from the previous 20.
• You will continue to receive three times the Stardust and XP for your first Pokémon catch of the day.

For more Pokémon GO updates, check out pokemongolive.com.

[Source]: PokemonGoLive.com: Exploration Bonus Updates Coming to Pokémon GO – [Archive].