Major updates to Pokmon GO's user experience continue rolling out globally as avatar changes conti
Pokémon GO is currently undergoing a major overhaul of several core aspects of the game, with significant changes being made to tailor the in-game map, encounter screens, battle screens, and more to the player's current location, as well as updates to avatar options, the Style Shop, and GO Snapshot. This update is being released in four different parts, with the first three, Rediscover Yourself, Rediscover Your World, and Rediscover Kanto all live in-game now. The final part, Rediscover Your Reality, is scheduled to go live in game on May 7th.
Rediscover YourselfThis first part of the Rediscover Pokémon GO update, which has already rolled out globally, features the following changes to avatar customization options for Trainers:
- Trainers can now customize avatars bodies with choices for weight, muscle, shoulders, chest, and hips
- Advanced color options added for Avatar skin tones
- Advanced color options added for Avatar eyes
- Advanced color options added for Avatar for hair and hairstyles, with the ability to filter by short, medium, and long options
- New facial expressions added for Avatars
Alongside this update, a brand new outfit was also made available from the in-game Style Shop for all Trainers.This first part of the Rediscover Pokémon GO update has also proven to be its most controversial, resulting in significant backlash from the userbase across many online platforms, and the creation of countless memes comparing the new avatars unfavorably to other games with infamously bad avatar models. Players with access to the beta test have expressed that these updates appeared to be rushed out to meet internal development deadlines, and failed to incorporate feedback given by beta testers ahead of release.
The second part of the Rediscover Pokémon GO update, which has also now rolled out globally, features refreshed in-game visuals that adapt to the Trainer's real-world surroundings and seasons. These new visuals can be seen on the in-game map, Pokémon encounter screen, and Trainer battle screen, and include proper in-game visual representations of buildings, hills, mountains, as well as enhanced environmental elements.
From lush forests to bustling cities, tropical beaches to rugged mountains, and more, all of these different biomes will now be visually depicted in-game as Trainers travel and explore the real world around them.
The third and most recently released part of the Rediscover Pokémon GO update brings actual gameplay aspects to biomes, directly impacting which Pokémon that Trainers can expect to encounter in-game. Examples given by Niantic include:
- Forest biome: Home to Bulbasaur, Caterpie, Weedle, Oddish, and more.
- Mountain biome: Home to Sandshrew, Clefairy, Zubat, Diglett, and more.
- Beach biome: Home to Squirtle, Psyduck, Seel, Magikarp, and more.
- City (includes towns) biome: Home to Caterpie, Pidgey, Machop, Gastly, and more.
As part of this update, the Garden Eel Pokémon Wiglett is also making its Pokémon GO debut. This Pokémon, which is morphologically similar to the Diglett first seen in Kanto, is now appearing in beach biomes.Rediscover Kanto event
An in-game event is running alongside this latest update until May 9th, at 8:00pm (PDT), offering a selection of bonuses to Trainers to encourage them to explore the new biomes.
Event bonuses
The following event bonuses will be active throughout the event period:
- Trainers receive increased XP for a seven-day PokéStop spin streak.
- Trainers receive increased XP for a seven-day Pokémon catch streak.
- Friendship levels increase faster than normal through opening Gifts, trading Pokémon, or battling together in raids, Gyms, or Trainer Battles
- Increased chance to encounter Shiny Bulbasaur, Shiny Charmander, and Shiny Squirtle in their respective biomes.
Field and Special Research
Free event-exclusive Timed Research are currently available a part of this event, rewarding Trainers with Mega Energy for Venusaur, Charizard, or Blastoise when completed.
A free Special Research is also available for all Trainers. Completing this Special Research awards items, XP, Stardust, and encounters with event-themed Pokémon.
Featured attacks
The following featured attacks will be available when evolving the following Pokémon during this event:
- Ivysaur → Venusaur: Charged Attack Frenzy Plant
- Charmeleon → Charizard: Charged Attack Blast Burn
- Wartortle → Blastoise: Charged Attack Hydro Cannon
Future update - Rediscover Your RealityThe final part of the Rediscover Pokémon GO update will feature a revamped GO Snapshot feature, allowing Trainers more flexibility in using the real world as a backdrop for Pokémon photos.
This final update will release worldwide on May 7th, however certain Trainers in Australia can expect to see this update sooner, perhaps as part of the Pokémon GO in-person gameplay experience coming later this week to DreamHack Melbourne from April 26th to 28th.
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