Summary
SomePokemon GOfans have started calling for Niantic to “buff” the game’s wild encounters. According to them, the developer has increasingly neglected thisPokemon GOmechanic in recent years.
Over the course of 2024, 40new mons debuted inPokemon GO. Apart from expanding the game’s species pool, Niantic also released dozens of new Pokemon forms during this period, including 118 shinies and half a dozen Gigantamax mons.
But some fans aren’t thrilled with how many of these new arrivals were actually implemented into the hit mobile game. One such sentiment was recently voiced by Joe Merrick, the owner of popular Pokemon fan site Serebii. Taking to Twitter in early January 2025, Merrick criticized Niantic for growing increasingly neglectful of wild encounters. Looking to illustrate this perceived issue, he noted that over half of all new mons added to the game in 2024 weren’t obtainable in the wild. Instead, they either required players to participate inPokemon GOraidsor spend money.
Merrick suggested that this diminishing focus on wild encounters is pushing the game away from its original premise: going outside and hunting for pocket monsters. His tweet amassed thousands of likes and hundreds of retweets and comments within 24 hours of going live on January 9, consequently surpassing 285,000 impressions. This social media momentum indicates that manyPokemon GOfansagree with Merrick’s criticism and would like to see the game “buff” wild encounters, so to speak.
Pokemon GO’s Next Mon Will Be Encounterable in the Wild
The chances of Niantic changing course on its near-future plans for the game based on this wave of complaints are slim. According to what thePokemon GOdeveloper has said over the years, its content roadmap is usually planned out at least a year in advance, so even if it wanted to act on this feedback, the first results of such a game design shift wouldn’t be visible before 2026 at the earliest.
That notwithstanding, thenext mon set to debut inPokemon GO, Rookidee, will coincidentally be encounterable in the wild. This Galar species will be added to the game on January 21, which is when the Steeled Resolve event is scheduled to kick off. Evolving Rookidee into Corvisquire and then Corviknight will require 25 and 100 Rookidee Candy, respectively. Steeled Resolve is planned to conclude at 8pm local time on January 26. Roughly 200 Pokemon are still waiting to be added toPokemon GOas of early 2025, with Niantic being expected to debut dozens of them over the course of this year.
WHERE TO PLAY
Now you can battle other Pokémon GO trainers online! Try the GO Battle League today. Join Trainers across the globe who are discovering Pokémon as they explore the world around them. Pokémon GO is the global gaming sensation that has been downloaded over 1 billion times and named “Best Mobile Game” by the Game Developers Choice Awards and “Best App of the Year” by TechCrunch
UNCOVER THE WORLD OF POKÉMON: Explore and discover Pokémon wherever you are! CATCH more Pokémon to complete your Pokédex! JOURNEY alongside your Buddy Pokémon to help make your Pokémon stronger and earn rewards! COMPETE in epic Gym battles and… TEAM UP and UNITE with other Trainers to catch powerful Pokémon during Raid Battles!It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await! Let’s GO
