Great news, Trainers! The “Raid Lobby counter” feature is rolling out, letting you see how many people are in a Raid lobby without tapping on the Gym. Kecleon and Zorua delays were due to limited resources. Pokémon HOME will link with Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet soon, allowing easy Pokémon transfers. Exciting times ahead, so keep an eye out for updates!
Raid Lobby counter rollout has started
The new “Raid Lobby counter” feature is rolling out in test phase to some Trainers. The feature allows Trainers to see how many people are in a Raid lobby without having to tap on the Gym, both from the map view and the Nearby Raid Screen.
We already reported on this feature back in April 2023, and now it is actually going live for some more Trainers. Or this is just a fix of the original rollout, which is also likely.
If you get access to the feature, let us know how it feels for you, and how much usage you’re getting from it.
Trainers, we're excited to share that a long-awaited feature is now rolling out in test phase! Some Trainers will now see an indicator on the map, Nearby Raid Screen, or both that shows approximately how many people are in a Raid lobby without having to tap on the Gym. pic.twitter.com/fYD7M1mMrU
— Niantic Support (@NianticHelp) May 18, 2023
We know why Kecleon and Zorua were delayed
We came across an older article that spilled the beans on why we had to wait so long for Kecleon, Zorua, and Larvesta to show up in the game. Turns out, it all came down to a lack of resources on Niantic’s end.
Zorua made its appearance last October, disguising itself as your buddy Pokémon. Then, Kecleon followed in January, playing hide-and-seek at Pokéstops. And finally, poor Larvesta got stuck behind those pesky egg paywalls in May, which got fans seriously annoyed.
For a number of us who have been eagerly waiting for Kecleon (seriously, it became a meme at this point), the way it was released felt underwhelming. It felt rushed and left us wondering why it took so long for Niantic to add it in. The article finally sheds some light on this. Niantic’s Pokémon GO director, Michael Steranka, and senior producer, John Funtanilla, spilled the tea. Apparently, it all boils down to limited resources.
Niantic had to decide where to allocate their resources. Should they invest in creating a cool Zorua experience, or focus on other features and bug fixes? It’s a tough call.
According to Steranka, the release of Zorua and Kecleon was basically the earliest possible time they could get those features done given the resources available. They wanted to ensure an amazing and unique experience for these Pokémon, making them stand out from the rest.
Funtanilla chimed in, mentioning the release of Vivillion in December as an example of a unique experience that showcased the team’s creativity and fostered global connectivity. They want to stay true to the lore and be innovative with each Pokémon they introduce.
You can read more about it here, but this covers the gist of the piece.
Connectivity Between Pokémon HOME, Pokémon Scarlet, and Pokémon Violet Is Coming Soon
Pokémon HOME will be soon updated to version 3.0.0 and players will be able to link Pokémon HOME with Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet (actual update time may vary by region).
Linking Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet to Pokémon HOME will allow players to move Pokémon freely between Pokémon HOME and their game—just remember that Pokémon can only be moved to games that they appear in.
You will also be able to bring Roaming Form Gimmighoul from Pokémon GO into Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet via Pokémon HOME. For more details on how to catch Roaming Form Gimmighoul in Pokémon GO, refer to these instructions on connecting Pokémon GO to Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Additional instructions on connecting Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME can be found here.
The Pokemon HOME 3.0.0.0 update is not coming out on May 23/24, rather on a separate date! https://t.co/tdWyd6TCRv
— Pokémon GO Hub (@PokemonGOHubNet) May 19, 2023
