Pokémon Go adds classic Pokémon feature Routes and Legendary Zygarde

The new features for Pokémon GoThe new version of the game, which launches on Thursday, allows players to create their own custom routes. Unlike in classic Pokémon games, the Routes feature in Pokémon GoThe game will feature in-game routes that take players to their destinations, with hopefully exciting encounters and fascinating sights on the way.

The Routes of the City Pokémon Go are designed to be something like an in-game walking tour, connecting the game’s PokéStops and Gyms in creative ways to encourage players to get moving and to discover interesting landmarks.

Players will also be rewarded for walking the game’s Routes, Niantic said in a blog post, doling out extra XP, Buddy Candy, and other bonuses as they explore players’ creations.

Interview Pokémon Go senior producer Chad Jones told Polygon the goal with Routes is to give the game’s players a way to explore cities, towns, and parks like a local. Routes, Jones said, will let trainers “share knowledge that they have about the world to create the in-between spaces between the points of interest that we already have.” That means things like interesting hikes or “cool secret paths that people wouldn’t know unless they were a local — hidden gardens or art or things that they are just aware of that most people wouldn’t be,” Jones said. Jones compared the new feature with other popular mapping applications, such as AllTrails or Strava.

“In my neighborhood, we have a park where we have a back entrance that goes over a wooden footbridge, and is like objectively more enjoyable for humans, who are just walking around the world that Google [Maps] wouldn’t lead you to it because they don’t know about it — and it’s inefficient,” Jones explained. “You wouldn’t know about it unless you were there with a local. We’re hoping that trainers will have an experience that they get to be shown the world through the eyes of people that are locals.”

One can easily see other examples of useful Routes: historical walking tours, pub crawls, “raid trains” leading to Gyms where Pokémon GoPlayers regularly raid with each other. Routes are short (500 meters) and long (upto twenty kilometers). They can also simply be interesting drawing on the map. Players could, for instance, use Routes to draw a map with Pikachu on it. (Don’t draw inappropriate things, Niantic says; players’ Routes will go through a review, so your rude drawing probably won’t make it through anyway.)

Players will be able to create Routes in-game, simply by choosing a PokéStop or Gym as their starting point, hitting “record” to start mapping their Route, writing some info about the Route, and submitting it for review. Other players will see the Route in game if it is approved.

Players will receive the following bonuses to encourage them to take Routes.

• You can earn a new Route Badge after completing the Route
• Earning Buddy Candy more quickly
• More Pokémon attracted to Incense when exploring a Route for the first time
• A bonus XP is awarded for completing the first Route each day. (Completing Routes seven consecutive days will increase your XP Bonus)
• When you complete a Route with a buddy, it’s like a Buddy Heart.

The Zygarde cell is a brand new item that players can find on the Routes. Pokémon Go is adding Zygarde, the “Order Pokémon,” as part of a new Special Research story called “From A to Zygarde.” While that Zygarde will be relatively weak upon catching it, it can be upgraded with Zygarde Cells (stored in a Zygarde Cube) to change Zygarde’s form. In its Complete Forme, Niantic says, Zygarde is powerful enough to overwhelm fellow Legendary Pokémon Xerneas or Yveltal.

Jones said Niantic expected Routes would benefit players not only in large towns and cities but also in rural areas. “The rural communities are where we’re hoping it has the hugest impact,” he said, “because it’ll be a massive way for them to really get after it and start progressing the way that they would be able to if they lived in an urban area.”

Niantic only has a small number of routes, but others have been created by third parties. Pokémon Go players using the company’s Wayfarer app have already started creating Routes ahead of the feature’s launch. Niantic is planning to gradually rollout Route creation to all players, with plans for improved rating and recommendation, as well as rewards and incentives to encourage players to create popular Routes.

“We’re open to all sorts of different things,” Jones said, “with the intention that [Routes] becomes a nice addition to how trainers think about their normal play sessions.”