Hello Trainers! Pokémon GO 0.177.0 is slowly rolling out through the Google Play Store (the iOS App Store usually lags behind). There’s some pretty big Quality of Life updates in this one including how energy is displayed in PVP battles, code for how raid battle passes are consumed, AR Occlusion, stickers and more.
🚨⚠️ Disclaimer ⚠️🚨
Please be aware that everything posted here has been publicly reported by data miners (PokeMiners). Information shared through these channels is not affiliated nor approved by Niantic, and is always subject to change. Do not take it for granted, features change and get scrapped all the time. It is very important that you are aware that these things CAN and WILL CHANGE. Additionally, this article contains my thoughts and opinions in regards to the code that was shared online – all of these should be treated as conjecture, not as hard statements. If you’re OK with that, feel free to read further. Potential spoilers ahead.
You can read the official release notes here
There’s a lot here, so deep breath. Let’s get into it!
Raiding Updates
Remote Raid Invites
<string name="remote_raid_invite_push_notif">Raid Invitation - %s invited you to join a Raid Battle!</string>
This is what it will look like when you get invited to a raid. We’re getting closer!!
Raid Pass Consumption
.get_ConsumeRaidTicketUponBattleStart .set_ConsumeRaidTicketUponBattleStart .get_ConsumedTicket .set_ConsumedTicket
This goes along with the text that was found in a previous data mine. Your raid pass will only be used if the raid battle actually starts, if you leave the lobby before the raid starts your pass won’t be used. Massive QoL update, hopefully, this gets implemented soon.
Energy Status in Battles
.get_HasFullEnergy .set_HasFullEnergy .get_HasSecondCharge .set_HasSecondCharge promiseFirstEnergy promiseSecondCharge promiseEnergyFull IChargeAttackDisplay ChargeFillUI attackImages UpdateExtents SetTimerFill fillDuration fillCurve UpdateCharge SetRaycastTar .getsActive buttonMaterials fillCenters LIMIT_HIT .get_ChargePulseDuration .get_CurveChargePulseScale .get_CurveChargePulseAlpha .get_SecondChargeIntroDuration .get_CurveSecondChargeIntro .get_EnergyFullIntroDuration .get_CurveEnergyFullIntro .get_EnergyFullLoopDuration .get_CurveEnergyFullLoop
This one was mentioned in the official release notes, they’ve redone how energy is displayed in PVP battles. You can now see exactly how much energy you’ve got stored up when you have already have enough energy to use one of your charge moves.
Examples:
Crunch with one move charged, one the way to a second.
Crunch and Hydropump energy maxed out.
PokéStop Scanning
If you’re not familiar with what Pokéstop scanning is all about, you can read more about it here.
Titan POI
TITAN_POI_AR_VIDEO_UPLOAD_NOW_BUTTON_WITH_SIZE TITAN_POI_AR_DATA_FRAME_COUNT TITAN_POI_AR_VIDEO_UPLOAD_PROMPT TITAN_POI_AR_VIDEO_UPLOAD_LATER_BUTTON titan_poi_ar_video_upload_now_button_no_size POI_CONTRIB_FAILED_ERROR TITAN_POI_AR_DATA_THANK_YOU_UPLOAD_NOW TITAN_POI_AR_DATA_VIDEO_TOO_SHORT TITAN_AR_MAPPING_LEARN_MORE_TEXT TITAN_AR_MAPPING_LEARN_MORE_ADDRESS TITAN_POI_AR_DATA_AGREE_BUTTON TITAN_POI_AR_DATA_ENCODING_PERCENTAGE
Code to support the Pokéstop scanning that was announced in the release notes.
Sponsored POI
SUBMIT_POI_AR_VIDEO_METADATA GET_PLAYER_SUBMISSION_VALIDATION_SETTINGS SUBMIT_SPONSOR_POI_REPORT SUBMIT_SPONSOR_POI_LOCATION_UPDATE ASYNC_FILE_UPLOAD_COMPLETE
Support for Sponsored POI
Grapeshot?
GET_GRAPESHOT_FILE_UPLOAD_URL ASYNC_FILE_UPLOAD_COMPLETE GrapeshotUploadDataComparer GrapeshotUploadService CreateGrapeshotUploadData
Not sure exactly what Grapeshot is, but it’s involved in the POI scanning. Perhaps its the upload service Niantic will be using?
For context, the term grapeshot means “A projectile that is not one solid element, but a geometric arrangement of round shot packed tightly into a canvas bag.” Kind of sounds like what Niantic is trying to accomplish with POI scans.
Upload Progress
CheckArMappingRateLimit IsArMappingUploadInProgress UpdateArMappingDisplay OnArMappingEnabledByPlayer OnArMappingUploadTriggered StartArMappingUpload OnArMappingCancelTriggered OnArMappingDeleteTriggered GetTotalPersistentFileSizeMb
Details on uploading and upload progress.
The Blacklist
IsBlacklistedForFeature BlacklistedDeviceId
It looks like Niantic can blacklist you from participating, and not just your account either but your device itself as well.
Enabled and Able?
.set_IsFeatureEnabled .set_HasValidEmail .get_IsFeatureEnabledGameSpecific
Niantic will be able to enable this from their end and enable it for Pokémon Go and Ingress separately. It appears you’ll also need a valid email registered to participate.
Tutorial
arMappingTutorialPrefab arMappingRecorderPrefab arMappingPreviewPrefab
Of course, there’s a tutorial.
Bad Word
poi_toast_title_desc_badword ERROR_STRING_BAD_WORD
Don’t use bad words, Niantic will yell at you. This appears like it’s linked to the POI scanning, so I’ve included it here.
AR Occlusion
MonoDepthWalkablePlane voxelBufferWidth voxelFrame VoxelFrameWillOverflow VOXEL_COUNT_SHIFT UNSHIFTED_SET_VOXEL_COUNT VoxelSetFlag VoxelCountMask VoxelFrameMask SetVoxelCount VoxelCountIncrement VoxelCountDecrement VoxelBufferWidth VoxelIndicesSetLastFrame VoxelAnchor VoxelAnchorFound LastFrameTouched MarkValidSample MarkInvalidSample
There are apparently 2000+ lines in this update to support AR Occlusion, given that it was announced in the release notes as well I think it’s safe to assume that this is ready to go. Just waiting on Niantic to turn the feature on.
Stickers!!
Gift Stickers
stickerButton sitckerIconLayoutElement stickerButtonLayout stickerButtonText stickerTextDisableColor justSendButtonLocation sendButtonLocationWithStickers appliedSticker stickerStampTransition sliderBackgroundGradientColor sliderBackgroundGradientSprite itemSelectionSliderGuiFactory stickerTextureRequest currentSticker ADD_STICKERS_BUTTON_KEY CHANGE_STICKERS_BUTTON_KEY
It appears that we’ll be able to add stickers to gifts, and we’ll be able to change the colour of the background?
Stickers from the Server
IStickerService GetSticker ReleaseAllStickers GetAllIapForStickerId SetStickerTextureToDefault SetStickerSpriteToDefault EmptyInventoryText StickerService PreloadStickerRoutine stickerRequestLookup loadSpriteFromUrls stickerStartLoadTime
Stickers will be retrieved from the server.
Sticker Timeout?
forceTimeOut timedOutStickerSprite timedOutStickerTexture timedOutThreshold
This appears to be a timeout for the stickers. Not sure why, but there it is.
In the Shop
STICKER_CATEGORY purchaseButtonPrefab purchaseButtonFactory stickerService stickerImage stickerShadowMaterial purchaseButtonsParent purchaseButtons stickerRequest
Stickers will be available in the shop.
Max number of Stickers
HaveMaxOfThisSticker MaxQuantityOfSticker CurrentQuantityOfSticker GetStickerInventory PreloadStickerAs
It looks like we’ll only be able to hold a limited amount of stickers.
Enabled?
get_StickersEnabled
Stickers will be able to be turned on and off from Niantic’s end.
In-Game AD’s
<string name="s1">Save image</string> <string name="s2">Allow Ad to store image in Picture gallery?</string> <string name="s3">Accept</string> <string name="s4">Decline</string> <string name="s5">Create calendar event</string> <string name="s6">Allow Ad to create a calendar event?</string> <string name="s7">Test Ad</string>
Menu buttons for in-game AD’s. It looks like the AD’s could contain sale information, and be able to add events to your calendar if you want. 2 for 1 Frappuccino’s anyone?
Unova Dex
ReportPlayerUnovaDexCount
The game can now pull your Unova Pokédex count. This is used for special research, such as “Have a Gold Unova Badge”
TensorFlow
libtensorflowlite.so
TensorFlow is an open-source platform for machine learning. The potential for this is very exciting. Team Rocket and the Team leaders could learn your habits, your Pokémon and their moves. I’m sure there’s a ton of other applications for it, but that’s what jumped to my mind when I first saw this.
Throwback 2020 Special Research
quest_special_dialogue_tcc_2_0
Removed I can’t stop thinking about how cute Oshawott is... Oh! You’re back! Excellent work catching that Darumaka!
Added I can’t stop thinking about how cute Oshawott is— Oh! You’re back! Excellent work catching that Patrat!
It looks like the reward that was changed from Patrat to Darumaka has been reverted back to Patrat
Minor Text Changes
Removed bundle.general1.free.1_title: Daily Free Box Added bundle.general1.free.1_title: Daily Bonus Box Removed bundle.general2.free.1_title: Free Box Added bundle.general2.free.1_title: Bonus Box
A couple of minor text changes to the Free boxes, they’ve been rebranded as Bonus Boxes now.
Conclusions and Speculation
Wow, that’s quite a lot!!
I’ve tested the new charge move energy mechanic in PVP, and I can honestly say its pretty awesome. Knowing exactly how much energy you’ve got saved up is exciting.
AR Occlusion appears to be ready, so if your reading Niantic. Turn it on, please? This is something that I’ve wanted since AR+ was released. To see that it’s so close. I’m pumped.
What do you think Niantic could be using Machine Learning for? Let us know in the comments.
That’s all, for now, trainers, stay safe out there.