Pokémon GO is adapting to the coronavirus pandemic by tweaking raids and other gameplay mechanics to be more socially distancing friendly.
Most gamers took the COVID-19 quarantine in stride. After all, we’ve been training our entire lives to stay indoors and play video games.
But Pokémon GO players had it rough. Suddenly, this game that required you to go outside and be with other people was a health hazard. Many of the game’s mechanics like Raid Battles and events were flat out canceled due to the pandemic, while other mechanics like eggs were tweaked to be possible while remaining socially distant.
Today, Niantic has rolled out a comprehensive update that will allow Pokémon GO players to keep playing even if they can’t get outside. And that update’s highlight is the return of Raids.
Starting today you can purchase Remote Raid Passes. These new items allow you to access Raid Battles that appear on the Nearby screen without needing to be physically present at the Raid site.
Also, Raids have been adjusted to allow up to 20 players at a time. Both remote players and local trainers will have the same Raid Power level, but that will change as social distancing rules ease after the pandemic is over. Niantic will keep an eye on local government orders and adjust these rules as needed.
You can get a bunch of Remote Raid Passes in the 1 PokéCoin bundle that will be coming soon.
With Raids coming back, Field Research Tasks are also getting a tweak. Since PokéStops can be out of reach for some players, you’ll now get a bonus Research Task daily without needing to spin a PokéStop. Additionally, Buddy Pokémon will occasionally recognize the fact that their trainers can’t go outside and do them a favor by accessing a nearby PokéStop to bring back Gifts.
Another big change is coming to how you power up your Pokémon. You can now use as much Stardust and Candies as you want to get your Pokémon to your desired CP level with zero waiting. Star Pieces, Lucky Eggs, and Incense will also stack to extend their duration without requiring the player to wait for the item’s effects to wear off first.
You can read the full list of changes on the Pokémon GO website here.
Source: Niantic
