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Pokémon GO: 2022 Updates and Current Restrictions

Pokémon GO is a great Niantic Inc. game available for iPhone and Android users. The game involves players' characters going out to the streets to hunt Pokémon and become trainers.

This guide discusses the latest Pokémon GO updates and the restrictions on Android and iOS devices.

What is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon GO is a mobile videogame where players seek, capture, and collect well-known Pokémon ("pocket monsters"). Additionally, players battle to control bases (gyms) to earn rewards.

Pokémon GO combines augmented reality and geolocation. It is freemium, free to download, and comes with an in-game monetized store. It is available in iOS and Android versions in the countries where the game servers already work).

When playing Pokémon, your avatar will move with you sharing GPS location, and thus the game setting will be in your city. Hence, residents of countries where the game is not available can't play it. However, you can play Pokémon GO wherever you are by using a VPN.

In the game, you can find Pokémon in museums and historical places. You can buy Pokéballs and train before facing rival trainers. You have the option of joining one of three teams and battling for the gyms with your partner Pokémon.

When you walk and notice your phone vibrate, it means there is a Pokémon nearby. To catch it, throw a Pokéball at it.

You can catch a more powerful Pokémon and complete your Pokédex as you level up. Ensure you make more Pokémon by hatching eggs and help your Pokémon evolve by catching many of the same types. Don't forget to compete in the gyms or defend yours to catch powerful Pokémon.

What to expect in the Pokémon GO update

In January 2022, Pokémon GO announced that updates were available. These are the improvements and new features that version 0.227.0 of Pokémon GO brings:

• Google ads.
• Ability to change Pokémon partners.
• Position adjustments in raids.
• Size adjustments.
• Change in evolution requirements.
• Collision settings.
• Camera settings.
• Base catch ratio changes.
• Changes in purification.
• Changes in shadow Pokémon.

Toward the end of January, Niantic Inc. introduced version 0.229.0 of Pokémon GO for Android. It had many interesting new features listed below:

• Hisuian electrode
• Added stunts
• New assets for an edit path button and today's view heart
• Auto-capture and auto-rotate options were added to the Plus
• The mega evolution level will be displayed on the Pokémon screen
• New quest library with various updates, including three different reward services: exclusive, full screen, and bubbles
• A few more updates to the PvP refactor, including timing, duration, and shipping actions
• Home widget containing eggs
• Adventure Sync Progress Notification
• Apps
• Flyer Marketing / Ads added
• Various updates to the Niantic Virtual Studio and AR libraries
• Various miscellaneous updates, including a possible GPS drift fix

In February, Niantic, Inc. took a break, then returned in March 2022 with another update for Pokémon GO users. It released version 0.231.0 for Android. The updates include:

• New logo for the Alola Season/ launch.
• Buddy Heart Checker, which tells you how many days are left until your buddy goes to the next level
• Players can now have different attributes, which are rewards from quests
• The hologram conversation will animate and appear on Willow's conversation screen
• Turkish language support and better handling of Thai fonts
• A setting to prevent friends from jumping on your shoulder
• The stops/gyms will change visually depending on whether you are 40m or 80m away
• More PvP Refactor changes, including changes to the trade buttons (a toggle to show them or not, and set a Mon image color)
• More updates to Route Maker, including a mock service to test and a distance check to make sure you're close enough to the start of the route to start it
• A height adjuster for AR-eligible stops, we assume, will change the height if needed
• Wayfare updates to check how many loads are in the queue and additional text in a popup to show daily nomination limits

The latest Pokémon GO update was released in April 2022. It is version 0.235.0. The incorporation of one of the fundamental changes includes many interesting new features, such as the imminent arrival of the new Megas and the long-awaited Routes.

• A confirmation dialog will now appear when attempting to transfer disguised Pokémon. In addition, disguised Pokémon can no longer be mass transferred.
• New Avatar Items Inspired by the Alola Region are available in Pokémon GO.
• Pokémon GO Travel and the Global Capture Challenge.
• Developer Knowledge: An Update on Raids.
• Ho-Oh appears in Raids around the world.
• Considerable improvement of the maps.

What is the Alola Season in the latest Pokémon Go update?

Alola Season is coming soon to Pokémon Go. With the update, players will welcome new Pokémon from the Alola Sun and Moon region.

Along with all the new faces worldwide, players will also be able to complete challenges to unlock rewards as the event progresses. The Alola Season launched on March 1, 2022.

Following the launch, players can expect some visual updates once they log into the new season of Pokémon GO. They will also notice visual updates for Gyms and PokéStops.

What happened when the Alola season started?

Following the start of the Alola Season on March 1, 2022, Generation 7 Pokémon began to arrive in Pokémon GO. Alola Sandshrew is one of the only region variants on Pokémon GO and started to appear more often with its Kanto version on March 13.

Ground and Ice/Steel type Pokémon started appearing more often from 11 am to 5 pm local time on March 13, with other bonuses like 25% less egg hatching distance and the 3-hour extension of Decoys and Incense.

If you evolved a Sandshrew during the event or 2 hours after, you would have noticed that the Ground-type experienced a special attack. Themed Stickers were also available at PokéStops, while gifts were opened during the event.

Other additions include a new Community Box with 30 Ultra Balls, 3 Super Incubators, 4 Lucky Eggs, and a Charged CT for 1,280 PokéCoins.

A one-euro Special Search was also available for more content. Many activities are lined up for the Alola season, the major update on Pokémon GO.

Current restrictions on Pokémon GO

The game has an age restriction of 13 years. However, it still permits children who are not at that age to have access under strict parental guidance.

In addition, specific devices have restrictions placed on them. For example, if you are still using devices with Android 4, Android 5, iOS 10, or iOS 11 operating systems, you will not have access to Pokémon GO due to the version 0.189 update.

The following devices don't have access to the game: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, Google Nexus 10, Oppo R7s, Samsung Galaxy E5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note3, etc. Ensure you read up your phone specifications to know if you can play Pokémon GO.

If you use a restricted device, you may notice that Pokémon GO might successfully install. However, that doesn't overrule the fact that you won't have the necessary support you need to play the game without hindrances. In addition, playing on an unsupported device can lead to permanent loss of accumulated points, treasures, XP, etc.

This shows that even though Pokémon GO is a fun and profitable game, not everyone can enjoy it.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pokémon GO

These are some frequently asked questions by some Pokémon GO users.

Can you monetize your Pokémon GO?
All the accessories can be purchased with virtual currency, aka PokéCoins.
Virtual currency is obtained by capturing Pokémon, evolving them, and having one or more "gyms" under control.
It is not mandatory to buy PokéCoins because you earned them playing. However, besides the time it takes to gather the necessary Pokécoins, the need to walk is added here, making the purchase attractive.

Is Tapu Koko on Pokémon GO? Where to find it?
Tapu Koko does not have a Chromatic variant on Pokémon GO at the moment. Considering Chromatic Tapu Koko doesn't exist on Pokémon GO, players will have to await Niantic's latest updates.

What is the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
From event Pokémon to those that can only be seen in certain parts of the world, Pokémon GO aims to make certain Pokémon much rarer than others, often unattainable for casual players. Here they are:

• Galarian Mr. Mime
• Noibat
• Sandile
• Melmetal
• SalazzleTirtouga
• Archen
• Axew
• Pikachu Libre
• Unown
• Azelf, Mesprit & Uxie

Final thoughts

Niantic Inc. regularly updates Pokémon GO to enhance players' experience and boost gameplay. This article discussed the game's latest updates and what they are about.