Niantic has announced multiple new features that will affect the way PokeStops work inPokemon GO. The features are already being tested out in one region of the world and will potentially have a full launch acrossPokemon GOsoon.For many fans,Pokemon GOhas been in need of some new featureslately. Recent controversies within the game’s community, concerning a perceived lack of effort on behalf of the developers, have resulted in stagnation among the player base and a drop in revenue forPokemon GO. Niantic appears to be taking a step in the right direction with the recent announcement of new features that may alter the way players can interact with PokeStops within the hit mobile game.RELATED:Pokemon GO Event is Bringing Back a Legendary PokemonNiantic first began to test out new PokeStop features at this year’s Summer Game Fest event in Los Angeles, and now a recent tweet from the company’s official support Twitter account reveals one of the features is getting further tests in New Zealand. The new addition in question is PokeStop Showcases, which will allow trainers to show off Pokemon with special attributes like size and weight in exchange for prizes. This feature combined with the recentlyexpanded compatibility withPokemon Hometo includeScarlet & Violetgives a number of reasons for players to return to the game.
ThePokemon GOcommunity in New Zealand has already made several confirmations about how this feature works. It appears as though Showcases will occasionally appear at various PokeStops for a limited time, and these Showcases will ask for a specific Pokemon with a specific attribute. For example, currently, during the beta testing in New Zealand, the PokeStops are asking for the largest Fomantis. Players within reach of the PokeStop can enter their Fomantis, and whoever has submitted the largest by the end of the Showcase gets a reward. This adds an interesting extra layer ofusefulness to XXL and XXS Pokemon. One player onPokemon GO’s subreddit reveals the reward they got was 2700 Stardust, 1 Incense, and 3 Ultra Balls, although it seems likely that reward will vary.
Route Creation is the other feature that could be getting a full launch onPokemon GOat some point in the near future. Much less is known about it, and it is currently not part of the beta test going on in New Zealand, but it is a feature that fans have been anticipating for some time. Once it is live it should be a great tool that will encourage players to find interesting walking paths for other players to explore in their local areas. Both of these features could be just the boost the app needs amidthe perceivedPokemon GOdevelopment stagnationand waning interest among the player base.
