"Pokémon Go," the popular location-based augmented reality game has recently received brand new updates. Three of the biggest changes are the addition of generation three Pokémon. Also, a new weather system, some changes to the game's battle system and other in-game mechanics are added as well.
When "Pokémon Go" first launched in July of 2016, the game only included the original 160 Pokémon from the Kanto region. Players, while excited to see their favorite Pokémon in familiar everyday locations, wanted to see the other Pokémon from the different regions as well. Niantic, the developers of "Pokémon Go," started working on adding more Pokémon to the roster.
The third-generation Pokémon went live on Dec. 11.
Alongside this new release, players of the game were introduced to new weather mechanics. According to Tech Crunch, the new weather mechanic relies on real-time weather, changing the in-game weather to match the player's current environment. If it is raining outdoors, it will start raining in the Pokémon world too.
The weather mechanics are not just for show either. Different climates will cause different Pokémon to spawn. Some Pokémons are more likely to appear when it is sunny outside, while others will only appear during colder weather or when it is raining. The new weather mechanic allows for more diverse gameplay, making it more challenging for players to collect all the Pokémon the game has to offer.
Aside from affecting Pokémon spawn rates, the new weather mechanic will also play a part in making battles more strategic. Different weather boosts different attack types, meaning that fire Pokémon will now have an advantage on sunny days but will be at a disadvantage when it is raining. It makes the battles feel more real, having the players and Pokémon be affected not just by their enemies attacks, but by their surroundings and outside factors that are not in their control.
Minor changes have also been made to the Pokémon Storage, allowing for players to own more Pokémon. Players can also build battle parties for Gym battles and raids.
