Pokémon GO is celebrating five years since the mobile game first launched, giving players a chance to catch their favorite Pokémon including Flying Pikachu. Pokémon GO fans have been enjoying an exciting season of new events and content, including the recently-concluded Bidoof Day, which offered a new research story and higher spawn rates for Bidoof and its Shiny variant.
Gamers who've played Pokémon GO from its release already know just how far the game has come in its five years. The 2016 launch offered a much more stripped-down version than the one available today, which now includes PvP Trainer Battles, Field Research, Special Research, and Shiny Pokémon. Perhaps most importantly, Pokémon GO now contains more pocket monsters than ever before, and though it still offers far from a full Pokédex, players can now catch their favorites from across most of the generations, as well as Legendary Pokémon.
Announcing the fifth-anniversary celebrations on the Pokémon GO blog, Niantic has confirmed that players will be able to add Flying Pikachu to their collections, this time with a balloon shaped like a number five. Darumaka, the fan-favorite Fire-type, will also have a higher spawn rate, as will Balloon Pikachu. Darumaka will have its own Shiny variant for particularly lucky players. Darumaka, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, and Flying Pikachu will also all be appearing in one-star raids for the event. Players can get fifth-anniversary Gift stickers from PokéStops and by opening Gifts or picking them up in the shop. Niantic has also confirmed all Lure Modules will "last one hour for the duration of the event, including Glacial, Magnetic, Mossy, and Rainy Lure Modules."
The celebration will also see new game features rolling out to all players, including the real-time sky mechanic and additional Pokédex classifications. Niantic notes that these will be available "in the coming days", though a specific time and date isn't given. In-game fireworks will light up the new sky and commemorate the game's fifth birthday, but that's not all. Last year's Pokémon GO Jump-Start Special Research will return, and players activating the Mystery Box have a shot at finding a Shiny Meltan during the event. Meanwhile, an Item Bag upgrade will be available from July 5.
The birthday celebrations are just the latest in a long line of in-game events for Pokémon fans, which later this month will include Pokémon GO Fest. The festival will take place on July 17 and 18, offering lots for trainers to get involved with. Players who purchase a ticket will get access to Special Research, and thanks to the event's theme of music there will be lots of musical Pokémon. This year, Pokémon GO Fest tickets are being sold at a special rate of $5 to recognize five years since the game launched. Meanwhile, the fifth-anniversary celebrations begin on July 6 at 10:00 a.m., running until July 15 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Pokémon GO is available now on iOS and Android devices.
Source: PokémonGOLive