Niantic has just announced GO Battle League, a new online matchmaking system that is coming to Pokemon in early 2020. GO Battle League builds on top of the existing Pokemon GO player vs. player battle system and leverages the everlasting Pokemon GO ethos – get out and explore the world with Pokémon.
We know that thousands of battlers are screaming like fan girls right now, but curb your enthusiasm for one second and lets scan through the official announcement for more information. We are highlighting the interesting parts, pay attention!
Official announcement
“Battling has been a core part of the Pokémon universe since the very beginning. We’re excited to announce the development of a feature that will build upon Trainer Battles, the current form of player vs. player battling that exists within Pokémon GO. This feature will be called GO Battle League.
Like many Pokémon GO features, GO Battle League will encourage players to get out and explore the world with Pokémon. Trainers will be able to walk in order to earn entry into the GO Battle League, then battle opponents from around the globe through an online matching system and rise in the ranks of the league. We hope this feature will make the Pokémon GO battling experience more competitive and accessible to more Trainers.
GO Battle League is slated for release in early 2020. We’ll be sharing more details in a special Dev Insights video soon. Stay tuned, Trainers!”
Breakdown
[…] the current form of player vs. player battling that exists within Pokémon GO.
Apparently, GO Battle League is not shaking up the Trainer Battles formula, but rather just providing an official framework for ranked game play. We’re a bit surprised, but we guess that recent Pokemon GO Invitational Tournament showed that the current iteration of Trainer Battles can be competitive enough.
Trainers will be able to walk in order to earn entry into the GO Battle League
Woah! What’s going on here? Is participation guarded by a Jogger medal requirement? Is there a special place where we have to walk to? Will there be special PokeStops that convert to battle venues, as speculated and fantasized on reddit for months? Possible, but it’s clear that you will have to “earn” your entry in the GO Battle League.
[…] battle opponents from around the globe through an online matching system and rise in the ranks of the league.
Right, so it’s an online system that matches you with other players and you have ranks. Finally, finally, finally! Will it use ELO? Will it use a different ranking system? Will there be placement matches? So many questions.
[…] a special Dev Insights video soon
Yes! Yes! Finally, we’re getting devs to talk about features, rather than sharing their feedback in blog posts.
Personal note from the author
For me, this is one of the most exciting things that Niantic announced – ever. After so many years, finally, I can use my Pokemon roster and show what type of a Trainer I am. Thank you Niantic. Seriously, thank you. This is a childhood dream come true.