Niantic announces a new Remote Raid Battle mode for Pokemon GO

Pokémon GO is a popular augmented reality (AR) mobile game from the developer Niantic. Normally, this company is all in when it comes to promoting the outdoor time and exercise involved in playing it and in participating in specific events such as Raid Battle. However, the prevailing impetus to self-isolate following the Covid-19 public health emergency has rendered that irrelevant for many more players.

Niantic had promised updates that would allow players to achieve more in Pokémon GO without leaving the house. Now, it has released more details on these new features. They include Remote Raid Passes for the appropriate Battles. They allow users to visit 'active' Gyms in their area in a more virtual fashion. Only 1 Pass will be needed per battle, although there will be a limit on how many Passes can be stored at a time.

It seems this new adaptation will be sticking around in the long term: a trainer who uses a Remote Raid Pass will have the same attack power as one who would be in the actual location in question from this update's release, but it will be reduced over time for at-home battlers. This may pan out to some inequity in the future: there are those who are confined to their homes for reasons besides pandemics.

These new updates also entail a bonus type of daily Field Research task that can be accessed without spinning a PokéStop. In addition, a Buddy Pokémon will gain the ability to travel to nearby PokéStops in lieu of their trainer in order to gather Gifts. Finally, Niantic has stated that players will now be allowed to give a Pokémon all the items needed to level it up as necessary at once.