Pokemon GO Coronavirus Changes Put Into Action
It’s been a heavy few days when it comes to Coronavirus news, and plenty of events are (rightfully) being cancelled or postponed. Pokemon GO is an interesting case study in this period however, and Niantic have been speaking to Polygon about how they’re making it easier for players who can’t go outside as much.
Niantic have told Polygon that they are “prioritizing updates to Pokemon GO features and experiences that can be enjoyed in individual settings.” This basically means that they’re giving us a better chance of catching Pokemon without needing to leave the house. This is being done by an increase to habitats, so more Pokemon will spawn in your vicinity. You can also buy an Incense pack for 99% off, which will boost spawn rate for an hour, instead of the usual 30 minutes.
Other changes include incubator’s hatching eggs twice as fast, and PokeStops dropping gifts more often. We don’t know when the changes will stop, but I would imagine they will be active for a few weeks. This is a great move by Niantic, who have also had to cancel Community Day’s and events in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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