Every time I feel like I may be losing interest in Pokemon GO [Free], Niantic announce a new event or additional features that suck me right back into 2016's augmented reality hit. While we reported that changes were afoot when the developers announced a temporary respite from the gyms last week, Niantic have today announced a comprehensive list of dramatic improvements to Pokemon GO that are arguably the most profound overhaul of the game's mechanics since it first launched last July. As detailed on the official website, Pokemon GO will soon be receiving reformed gyms that shake up the stagnant Dragonite-filled meta, Gym Badges to collect around the world, brand new Raid Battles for even more co-operative action, and a host of new items such as Technical Machines finally making their mobile Pokemon debut.
It's hard to know where to start on such an all-encompassing overhaul of Pokemon GO's mechanics, however rebalancing the gyms was a feature that many have requested from the game's inception. The Prestige system has finally been canned, and in its place lie six slots that must be filled with unique Pokemon (in other words, only one Dragonite/Blissey/Metapod per gym). These six Pokemon have to be fought in order, which should lead to more tactical importance in the creatures within each gym, as well as serving as nice throwback to the main-line series. Pokemon will also lose 'motivation' if they remain in a gym for too long, and their CP will temporarily decrease as this ...