After COVID-19 compelled Pokémon Go to undertake a digital format for its anniversary final 12 months, Niantic is making up for the misplaced time. To rejoice Pokémon Go’s fifth anniversary, the corporate has an array of occasions and advertising and marketing tie-ins deliberate for trainers, together with its two-day Pokémon GO Fest with Google Play because the official sponsor, a partnership with US Verizon shops, a brand new official TikTok channel and extra.
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To kick off the month-long celebration, Pokémon has teamed up with Verizon to show shops throughout the US into PokéStops and Gyms, the place trainers can unlock unique in-game content material and get entry to particular occasions. These embody restricted version giveaways and scheduled raids that give customers an opportunity to catch legendary Pokémon.
Verizon can also be giving trainers who go to shops an unique bundle of 2x Premium Raid Passes, 1x Fortunate Egg, 1x Incense and 20x Poké Balls. Earlier than heading over, trainers can test the Pokémon GO app to see if their native Verizon retailer is a Health club or PokéStop. As soon as inside, they’ll be directed to scan a QR code with their telephone to register and obtain the bundle. Trainers needn’t be Verizon prospects to take part and might anticipate extra data on raids to be launched as soon as per week till August 4.
Pokémon GO can also be internet hosting GO Battle League Season 8, a world matching system that lets trainers battle one another world wide and earn rewards; the season will run by means of the tip of August. Plus, all all through the month of July, trainers can expertise completely different Pokémon showing in five-star raids.
The anniversary coincides with Pokémon GO’s foray into TikTok. Because the launch of the channel on June 25, the account has posted six movies and amassed about 97,000 followers and 333,000 likes. One video, which faucets into TikTok’s viral ‘Inform me with out telling me’ problem, already obtained 4.5 million views and over 3,000 feedback.
These occasions are all in preparation for Pokémon GO Fest 2021, going down on July 17 and 18. Pokémon GO is treating customers to a worth slash in tickets, down from $15 to $5 for one ticket, which affords them entry to each days of the occasion.
With Google Play because the official sponsor, Google Play members will get 4 instances Google Play factors on all purchases made in Pokémon GO, together with tickets. Trainers utilizing Android units on Saturday, July 17 can even be eligible for an unique sponsored present that can improve their Pokémon GO Fest expertise. Lastly, trainers within the US and Canada can buy a branded T-shirt from pokemoncenter.com.
On day 1 of the occasion, Pokémon GO is bringing again themed hourly habitats from 10 a.m. to six p.m., throughout which period trainers can catch sure Pokémon extra often within the wild. As well as, trainers will get a free shirt avatar merchandise and might be able to witness the debut of certainly one of seven new Pokémon.
Day 1 of the pageant can even characteristic a music part that lets trainers assist Professor Willow and the workforce leaders throw a live performance by selecting sure Pokémon to affix the in-game occasion. Trainers can full Particular Analysis in change for particular rewards. They’ll even have the prospect to find out their in-game music, with new songs created by Pokémon music producer Junichi Masuda.
Additionally on Day 1, Pokémon Go is bringing again the worldwide problem area, the place followers can workforce as much as full a problem every hour, which, in the event that they full in time, will earn them a bonus for the rest of the hour. Ticket holders can full 4 Assortment Challenges.
Day 2 is devoted to raids, the place ticket holders will be capable to earn an additional 10,000 XP in raid rewards after finishing a Raid Battle, spin gymnasium picture discs to earn as much as 10 Raid Passes, full timed analysis to earn eight Distant Raid Passes and decide up a free occasion bundle containing three distant raid passes.
This 12 months additionally marks Pokémon’s twenty fifth anniversary. To commemorate a quarter-century, Niantic is releasing one other Pokemon cellular sport known as UNITE in September and two main-core video games for the Nintendo Swap later this 12 months, in accordance with 9 to five Mac.