The newest Pokémon GO event introduces the villainous Team Rocket to the fold, and the organization is bringing with it two new types of Pokémon for fans to catch in the form of Shadow and Purified Pokémon. Pokémon GO is still one of the most popular mobile apps in the world, boasting over a hundred million players worldwide and profit margins that have made it one of the most lucrative games every created.
Despite a steady stream of events over the calendar year, however, Pokémon GO has had a very quiet 2019 overall, without much in the way of innovation to keep fans hooked on the game. While it's arguable whether developer Niantic needs to do much more than introduce a new Pokémon every now and then to keep fans hooked - the game is already years old with a healthy player retention rate - it certainly doesn't hurt to generate some hype and draw back lapsed players whenever possible. 2018 saw many new features rolled out for the app, and fans who were hoping for more of the same have thus far been disappointed by the first half of 2019.
That's set to change now that Team Rocket has arrived in Pokémon GO, because the notorious organization responsible for most of the crime in the world of Pokémon has begun invading PokéStops, according to Polygon. The invaded Stops appear blackened and glitched on screen and reveal a Team Rocket grunt waiting for the player once they approach. Engaging with the Rocket grunt will begin a PvE Pokémon battle between a player's team and three of the Team Rocket member's Pokémon. In the event the player wins the battle, they'll get the chance to acquire a new Shadow Pokémon that will be left behind by the gang member.
Shadow Pokémon are characterized by a purple miasma floating around them and their eyes being red, indicating that they're meant to be used for evil. For a small amount of Stardust or Candy, however, players can Purify the Shadow Pokémon to return them to their normal state, offering a stat raise that will often grant the player a creature with 100% stats - something that has previously been much more time-consuming to achieve. So far, it appears that the three starter Pokémon - Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander - alongside others like Snorlax and Scyther will be available as Shadow Pokémon, though it's likely that more will be added as the event progresses.
Fans finally have something to talk about when it comes to Pokémon GO's 2019 campaign, and it's a big one. The introduction of starter variants that can be preserved as Shadow Pokémon if the player chooses is big game, as customization options in games as widely-played as this one help players create teams and aesthetics that stand out. Team Rocket's PvE takeover is also the kind of thing that's accessible, easy, and interesting - a perfect combination of traits for a game in Pokémon GO that wants to remain as popular as possible.
Source: Polygon