Niantic Labs Reveals Roadmap for Removing Pandemic Bonuses in Pokemon GO

Niantic Labs has published a detailed roadmap for removing the pandemic-era bonuses it previously implemented in Pokemon GO.

The company unveiled its plans through a post on the official Pokemon GO live news blog on Monday, June 21. Throughout the process, Niantic plans to keep tabs on the COVID-10 situations around the world and make adjustments accordingly. Trainers may benefit from different bonuses at different times as a result.

"We learned a lot." Niantic wrote, "Thank you for coming along with us as we continue to navigate through this together."

Niantic plans to start its rollout in July after Pokemon GO Fest 2021.

Pokemon GO Pandemic Bonuses Removed

The process has been divided into three individual parts: new bonuses, bonuses to be changed or removed, and bonuses that will remain.

New Bonuses Coming to Pokemon GO

• Receive up to two free Raid Passes per day from spinning Gym Photo Discs.
  
• Benefit from increased Incense effectiveness while moving.
  
• Be guaranteed gifts when spinning PokéStops so long as they have not reached their maximum gift inventory.
  
• Receive 10x bonus XP from spinning a PokéStop for the first time.

These are being implemented to encourage more exploration and to help get trainers back outside.

Previous Bonuses to be Reformed or Removed

Incense effectiveness will return to its pre-pandemic standard with a small caveat: trainers currently in motion will receive a similar boost for as long as they're moving around.

Buddy Pokemon will no longer bring gifts as often or carrying as plentiful of supplies. Trainers will have to go back to spinning PokeStops for their items.

The distance at which some PokeStops and Gyms can be interacted with will return to its pre-pandemic standard. However, these may change depending on future events and other special features.

Remote Raids will remain and be subject to changes as developers work to "find the right balance between remote play and in-person play."

Previous Bonuses to be Kept

• Incense duration will remain at 60 minutes.
  
• No walking requirement for GO Battle League.
  
• You can challenge any Trainer remotely with a QR Code, and the requirement to battle with friends remotely has been lowered to Good Friends.
  
• The maximum number of Gifts you can carry in your Item Bag at a time will remain at 20.
  
• Trainers will be able to open up to 30 Gifts per day, up from the previous 20.
  
• You will continue to receive three times the Stardust and XP for your first Pokémon catch of the day.

These bonuses will remain as part of the base game programming "for the foreseeable future."

Niantic committed to transparency involving future changes to post-pandemic gameplay. Additionally, trainers are encouraged to keep an eye on their Today View tab to stay in the know on what mechanics they'll be benefitting from.