Although it is not directly possible to request a new PokeStop, it is possible to get a new PokeStop in your area by using the Open Portal Recon (OPR) tool, available to Ingress players.
OPR is a tool designed to enable high level Ingress players to review new Portals (Points of Interest) submissions and add them to the game.
As the Portal backlog is immense, you are likely to have a lot of Portal requests around you that only need to be reviewed in OPR. Niantic regularly updates the Pokemon GO map by using data submitted via OPR and creating new PokeStops and Gyms using it.
IMPORTANT: OPR IS NOT A TOOL TO SUBMIT PORTALS. IT’S A TOOL TO REVIEW EXISTING SUBMISSIONS.
Up to this date (May 2017), more than 9000 PokeStops were created worldwide thanks to OPR. This page will lead you through the process of using OPR and gaining access to it.
What is OPR?
What is OPR?On May 11 2017, the Open Portal Recon tool became globally available to high Level Ingress players. The OPR is a tool intended to enable those players to moderate the in-game content and update the map frequently.
High level players review Portal suggestions using the OPR web application. Those Portal requests were earlier created by other Ingress players. If the portal gets approved it’s soon added to Ingress. These portals get added to Pokemon GO as PokeStops and Gyms.
In order to use the OPR tool you need to have the following:
- A Level 16 Ingress account in good standing
- A good knowledge of your local area
- A tiny bit of free time
Let’s see how to review OPR request if you don’t have an Ingress account or you simply don’t want to make one!
How to use OPR if you don’t have a Level 16 Ingress account
If you already tried using the OPR without having a Level 16 Ingress account, you got a message saying “Sorry, your account is not eligible”. What now, can you still review portal request in your area? Is there a workaround? What is love, baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more? There sure is!
For all of you who do not have a high level account, we suggest reaching out to your local Ingress community following these steps:
- Download Ingress from the Store
- Open Ingress and register an account
- Ingress can be overwhelming, but luckily we’ll be using only the COMM
- The COMM has two channels where you can chat: All and Faction
- Use All as more people will see your messages
- Introduce yourself, explain what you want to do and ask the Lvl 16s in your area to vote on OPR
- Coordinate with a High Level player to do your PokeStop bidding
- Buy him/her a drink
Questions and answers
Is this a guaranteed way to get more PokeStops?
There is no guaranteed way to get more PokeStops, but this is as close as it gets as it’s a official tool created by Niantic.
Did Niantic confirm this?
They did! In a Japanese interview, Niantic confirmed that OPR data set was used to create more than 9000 new portals, which also affected Pokemon GO (their words!) – source
What can become a PokeStop/Portal?
Anything that fits into Ingress Candidate Portal criteria, loosely.
What happens after I create a request (when it gets enabled)?
Your request gets logged on OPR and other high Level Ingress players vote on it. If you get enough votes, your submission is accepted. Otherwise, it’s rejected.
How does OPR look like for Ingress players?
The voting screen is fairly simple, with a few boxes to provide star ratings and an overview of your submission:
