Still enjoying Pokémon GO? You’re not alone. And if you’ve recently stopped playing, a major update may encourage you to return to the game.
Update: The new Pokémon debuted Thursday evening and bring the number of monsters in the Pokédex to 241. There are lots of new ones out there (including two new Eevee evolutions — try “Sakura” and “Tamao”), so go outside and find ’em!
… If you can load the game, that is. Niantic confirms that the app went under heavy load as soon as they revealed the new Pokémon:
We're currently seeing an incredible number of Trainers logging in. Thanks for bearing with us as we address latency issues!
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) February 16, 2017
Original story: Niantic has announced Pokémon GO will be adding over 80 new monsters to the game “later this week” from the Johto region, seen in Pokémon Gold and Silver (originally released in 1999). New characters include Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile.
Despite there being hundreds of Pokémon for the app to employ, the game has only added a handful of animals since its summer launch including Ditto, Pichu, and Togepi. This week’s expansion will be the largest to date.
In addition, Niantic has announced the following updates, including an easier way to switch between Pokéballs and berries as you’re trying to catch a creature in the wild:
New Evolutions: There are now more opportunities to evolve your Pokémon in Pokémon GO than ever before. Some Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region will soon be able to evolve—into Pokémon that inhabit the Johto region! Be on the lookout for new Evolution items at PokéStops, which you’ll need to evolve some Pokémon.
New Encounter Gameplay: When you encounter Pokémon in the wild, don’t be surprised if they react in new ways as you’re trying to catch them. You’ll also notice the addition of new item carousels that allow you to select Berries and Poké Balls directly from the encounter screen. Hone your skills and catch those elusive Pokémon!
New Berries: Pokémon enjoy eating Berries, and you’ll have the opportunity to get two new Berries by spinning the Photo Disc at PokéStops—Nanab Berries and Pinap Berries! Giving a Pokémon a Nanab Berry will slow its movements, making it easier to catch. The Pinap Berry doubles the amount of Candy you’ll receive if your next catch attempt succeeds.
New Avatars and an Expanded Wardrobe: Now you’ll be able to give your avatar a complete upgrade! Customize your look with a whole new selection of hats, shirts, pants, and other items.
Will new Pokémon bring you back to ‘GO’?
Niantic recently teased that trading and enhanced battles are in the works, but they don’t appear to be a part of this week’s update.