Another major update is coming to Pokemon Go this year, and it’s one that players have requested for a while. At long last, the the level cap for players will go from 40 to 50. In a blog post released today, Niantic details the new plans for “Go Beyond,” the upcoming system for leveling up past 40. It also details several other major updates, which we’ll go over here.
First, leveling up. Once players reach level 40, for every level after that they’ll have to gain experience, but also complete a challenge unique to that level. For example, to get from level 40 to 41 players will have to catch a high number of Pokemon in a single day. Now, what about players who haven’t reached level 40 yet? Well, I’d say no rush, except if you want some exclusive rewards you’re going to have to get playing. For players who reach level 40 by the end of 2020, they’ll receive an exclusive medal and Gyarados hat. Thankfully, Pokemon Go will give out double catch exp until the end of the year, which should help those who are frantically trying to catch up.
As for other updates, Pokemon Go will add seasons, new Pokemon from the Kalos region, and a friendship event. As the seasons change in the real-world, so too will they change in the game. And with each season will come different Pokemon appearing in the wild. Speaking of different Pokemon, we’ll soon see Pokemon introduced in Pokemon X and Y arriving in Pokemon Go. Last but not least, a 12 day friendship event arrives starting today. Players will be able to level up friendships with each other faster, and get more bonuses for battling together, until November 30th.
And come November 30th, we’ll see the start of many of these “Go Beyond” changes implemented in-game, including the new level system for getting to 50. This has been a big year for Pokemon Go, as the game has introduced play-at-home features to keep players occupied during the pandemic. This has obviously paid off, as the game has already made over $1 billion in profits this year alone. Still, it looks like it’s not slowing down, as this update is a major one. If you’re already at the level cap, start getting mentally prepared for the new challenges, and if you’re almost there, best of luck with your journey to be the very best (or at least level 40).
