The Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event is coming soon, and developer Niantic has shed some light on some of its most exciting elements, which includes the addition of Pokémon GO Mega Gyarados to the title. Pokémon GO Lunar New Year events are a longstanding tradition in the game and feature design elements inspired by the given year - in this instance, for example, the Pokémon GO Lunar New Year is centered around the Year of the Ox.

Pokémon GO has continued to enjoy success throughout its long life cycle on mobile, but 2020 marked a surprising new high for Niantic's game in spite of a global pandemic that seriously challenged not only player attention and free time, but also the design fundamentals of the game itself, which heavily featured outdoor play. Thanks to quick adaptations from Niantic, Pokémon GO continued to thrive and offer players an escape even without leaving their homes, and the momentum generated from this triumph has carried over into 2021 so far, with content updates and rollouts that have continued to keep fans engaged.

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Earlier today, Pokémon GO Live announced details on the Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event for 2021, and one of the biggest details shared is the addition of Mega Gyarados in Pokémon GO. The Mega Evolution of the popular titanic Pokémon is appearing in-game for the first time, following the traditional version and its Red Gyarados counterpart already being present in Pokémon GO. Mega Gyarados will also be appearing in Pokémon GO Mega Raids from Tuesday, February 9 until Saturday, February 20.

Niantic provided more details on the event in general, as well, as the Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event 2021 will run from February 9 until February 14. The event will include Timed Research featuring Tauros, the bull Pokémon most closely associated with the Year of the Ox from an aesthetic standpoint, and an increase in red Pokémon appearing in the wild. The event page also suggests an increased encounter rate with Shiny Gyarados due to the Shiny form of the Pokémon being red, so the Lunar New Year event is a good opportunity for Gyarados fans for a number of reasons.

As always, Pokémon GO Mega Gyarados' addition will continue to bolster an already impressive roster that features the kind of depth that the game was criticized for lacking in its early days. As the Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event begins and players get their chance to improve their teams, it's worth wondering what the future holds for the game ahead of an uncertain 2021 - continuing its sales pace from the previous year is paramount, but so too is adding some new content that doesn't feel as routine as events like Lunar New Year additions.

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Source: Pokémon GO Live