Pokemon GO adding 80 monsters from Gen 2 this week, new features
Update: Added in the full announcement below.
Original: Niantic announced today that Pokemon GO will be adding 80 new Pokemon from the second generation of Pokemon games this week. Additionally, new features are on the way.
Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile are just some of the new Pokemon that can be encountered. New evolutionary items and berries are coming to the game as well. The former will help players complete their Johto collections, while the latter will make battles feel a little more challenging.
Pokemon GO will now have the Nanab Berry and Pinap Berry. With the Nanab Berry, Pokemon will be slowed down so it’s less likely for them to run off. Pinap Berries give players twice as much candy upon a successful catch.
New customization options can be purchased as well. This will allow users to further customize their looks.
Game Update Welcomes Pokémon Originally Discovered in the Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver Video Games and Introduces Updated Encounter Gameplay, Evolution Options, New Berries and Expanded Avatar Items
San Francisco—Feb. 15, 2017—Niantic, Inc. and The Pokémon Company International announced an additional 80 Pokémon will begin to appear in Pokémon GO later this week. These include Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region from the Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver video games, including Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile. Trainers will encounter these Pokémon “in the wild” as they embark on adventures and explore their neighborhoods and cities to catch Pokémon. In addition to Pokémon that will appear in the game for the first time, the latest update introduces new gameplay mechanics for Trainers to master, including new encounter gameplay, new Evolution items, two new Berries, and expanded outfit and accessory options for their Trainer avatars.“Today is a momentous occasion for Pokémon GO as we welcome more Pokémon and build upon the encounter and capture mechanics for the passionate global community of Trainers playing the game,” said John Hanke, founder and Chief Executive Officer, Niantic, Inc. “Pokémon GO is a live experience which we’ll be continuing to support and evolve in new and interesting ways for years to come.”
“With Pokémon GO, The Pokémon Company endeavored to create a compelling game based on the concept of encountering and catching Pokémon in the real world,” said J.C. Smith, Senior Director, Consumer Marketing, The Pokémon Company International. “The amazing response to Pokémon GO by millions of existing and new Pokémon fans around the world is remarkable. We’re thrilled to keep the adventure going by welcoming these Pokémon to this engaging new way of experiencing the fun of the Pokémon brand.”
With the latest Pokémon GO game update, new Pokémon evolution options will give players the ability to use new Evolution items to evolve their Pokémon into ones that were originally discovered in the Johto region. While catching Pokémon, Trainers can use two new Berries—the Nanab Berry, which slows a Pokémon’s movements, and the Pinap Berry, which doubles the amount of Candy received if the next catch attempt succeeds. Trainers will also be able to customize their avatar’s appearance with a new selection of hats, shirts, pants, and other items. Additional items will be available for purchase from the in-game Pokémon GO shop.
Trainers can download Pokémon GO from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play Store for Android. A version of Pokémon GO for Apple Watch is also available through the App Store. Nintendo’s Pokémon GO Plus device, which allows Trainers to catch Pokémon and collect items with the push of a button without looking at their screens, is being replenished at retail locations in support of this latest update, while supplies last.