Trainers,
The start of a new Season brings with it some exciting updates! We’re excited to announce an all-new friend who is joining Pokémon GO, Mateo! Beginning 12/04, Trainers can discover Mateo at the end of Routes that they’ve explored, and experience a new way to exchange gifts with Trainers from all around the world.
To celebrate, get ready for the new Along the Routes event! Enjoy event bonuses focused on exploration, gifting, and featured Pokémon encounters, and read on to learn more about the updates to Routes. Plus, for the first time, Trainers around the world will be able to encounter Shiny Hisuian Sneasel—if they’re lucky!
To learn more about Mateo and how to explore the world of Pokémon GO with Routes, head over to our Routes page!
Along the Routes
Monday, December 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, December 8, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. local time
Meet Mateo, and other Routes updates
Meet Mateo and exchange gifts with Trainers from around the world!
Mateo, a researcher who loves to travel, is on his way to Pokémon GO! He enjoys collecting and exchanging Postcards and gifts from all over the world, and he is excited to meet you at the end of your journey on a Route. To encounter Mateo:
- As you near the End Point of a Route, Mateo may be waiting for you with some gifts he has collected!
- Begin a dialogue with Mateo in order to exchange a gift with him.
- Choose which of Mateo’s gifts to exchange amongst the Route End Point, Route Start Point, or even a gift from a nearby Pokéstop.
- Add a sticker if you like, and select ‘Exchange’
- Get ready for the exchange to happen, and open up your new memento from another Trainer! Feel free to pin the postcard as well for safe-keeping.
As a note, you can participate in a Gift Exchange with Mateo once a day.
Routes and Party Play
Get the party started in Pokémon GO! Trainers within a party can now complete Routes together. What Routes are you most excited to explore with your friends?
Learn more about Party Play, Pokémon GO’s new feature that transforms the way you play Pokémon GO with your friends, here.
1 million Routes created worldwide!
It’s time for a celebration! Since Routes’ launch in July, Trainers all over have helped to create amazing Routes for their communities to enjoy. We have made it to 1 million Routes created globally, and we’re excited for how much more there is in store for Trainers to explore.
Want to learn more about Routes? Check out our Routes page here.
As we continue to make Routes an even more fun experience, here’s what Trainers can expect to see now:
- Increased Routes availability across the globe for more Trainers to enjoy
- Lowered the level requirement for Trainers to create Routes
- Several quality of life improvements, including seeing even more Routes within the Nearby menu, directional arrows now displayed on Routes, and the number of Zygarde Cells now shown within the Zygarde Cube details
In the future, Trainers can expect for Routes to continue to spring up around the world as more are approved. In addition:
- More Trainers will begin to have access to creating Routes
- Zygarde cells will become more frequent on Routes
- A new notification will be available to inform Trainers when there are Routes nearby
- Quality of life improvements
We’re excited for all that is to come, and who knows what more is on the horizon? Be sure to check out the Routes page to keep up to date!
Special Research
A new Special Research story is available to Trainers! Learn more from Mateo and the power of exchanging gifts through the Special Research story: A Route to New Friendships.
Wild encounters
The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild.
Eggs
The following Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs.
Also, for the first time in Pokémon GO, you’ll be able to hatch Shiny Hisuian Sneasel—if you’re lucky!
Event bonuses
Event bonuses
The following Pokémon are more likely to appear as Shiny Pokémon during the event!
Field Research task encounters
Event-themed Field Research tasks will be available!
The following Pokémon will be available to encounter when you complete Field Research tasks.
Also, for the first time in Pokémon GO, you’ll be able to encounter Shiny Hisuian Sneasel—if you’re lucky!
Timed Research
Timed Research focused on exploring your area and sending gifts will be available throughout the event!
Complete the research tasks to earn items and encounters with the following event-themed Pokémon.
PokéStop Showcases
During the Along the Routes event, be on the lookout for Showcases at select PokéStops where you can enter Sneasel and Hisuian Sneasel!
Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change. Be sure to follow us on social media, opt in to receiving push notifications, and subscribe to our emails to stay updated.
—The Pokémon GO team
