During our visit to the Pokémon GO 10th Anniversary Celebration in New York City, we had the opportunity to speak with Michael Steranka, Vice President of Product at Scopely.
Earlier in the event, Steranka and Ed Wu shared Scopely’s long-term vision for Pokémon GO, describing it as a “forever game” built around three core pillars for the next decade:
- Community – with renewed attention on Gyms and bringing local communities together.
- Core Memories – creating more opportunities for players to build memorable experiences together.
- Multi-Generational Play – ensuring Pokémon GO continues to evolve for players of all ages.
Following the presentation, we asked Steranka about several topics the community has been discussing for years, including Arceus, unreleased Pokémon, Remote Raids, Gyms, PvP, and future gameplay mechanics.
Arceus and Other Unreleased Pokémon
One of the biggest questions among players is why several Pokémon—including Arceus—have yet to appear in Pokémon GO.
GO Hub: Several Pokémon have remained unreleased for years, including Arceus. Are those delays intentional because you’re planning special mechanics for them?
Michael Steranka: Arceus is one of my favorite Mythical Pokémon of all time. I will say that, if players are paying attention to which Pokémon in the Pokédex have not been released yet, a lot of them have really unique qualities that we want to make sure we’re doing justice to before we add them to the game.
Sometimes that takes time. What I can promise is that, by the time we’re ready to release some of these Pokémon into the world—including Arceus—they will reflect the unique qualities of those Pokémon in a way that is also uniquely Pokémon GO.
GO Hub: Could those unreleased Pokémon introduce entirely new gameplay mechanics, similar to how Dynamax was implemented?
Michael Steranka: Nothing that I can reveal today. But, as we’ve done in the past, we always try to do justice to Pokémon based on the particular mechanics and qualities of those Pokémon.
Adapting Pokémon Mechanics for GO
GO Hub: When a Pokémon has a unique mechanic in the main series games, how do you decide how to adapt it for Pokémon GO?
Michael Steranka: That’s something we collaborate with The Pokémon Company on very, very closely.
We also never want to simply transplant something one-to-one. We always want to put our own unique spin on it in a way that remains authentic to each individual Pokémon, while also demonstrating how it would be reflected in the real world.
Remote Raids Are Here to Stay
Remote Raids have been one of the community’s most debated features over the past several years, so we asked whether any major changes were planned.
GO Hub: Are there any plans to change or remove Remote Raids?
Michael Steranka: Oh, Remote Raids? They’re here to stay.
We currently have no intention of making any changes to them. I think the way they’re set up right now is actually working very well.
This is one of the clearest public statements yet regarding the future of the feature, with Steranka confirming that Remote Raids are not currently planned for further changes.
Gym Updates Are Being Explored
During the anniversary presentation, Gyms were mentioned as one of the game’s long-term focus areas.
GO Hub: You mentioned Gyms during your presentation. Can you share anything about what’s being worked on?
Michael Steranka: I’m not able to share specifics just yet.
When asked whether players should expect some kind of Gym rework, Steranka confirmed the team is actively evaluating the feature.
Michael Steranka: We are looking at Gyms as a feature in the game that hasn’t been touched in many years. It’s such a prominent feature that we feel it could better serve players.
While no details or timeline were shared, it’s a strong indication that Gym gameplay is being considered for future improvements.
The Technical Challenge of PvP
We also asked which area of player feedback is more difficult to solve than many players realize.
GO Hub: What’s one piece of community feedback that’s much harder to address than people might expect?
Michael Steranka: I receive a lot of feedback around PvP specifically.
When I talk to players about that type of feedback, I’ll spend some time walking them through the technical challenges that come with creating a competitive PvP system. It requires input delays of less than half a second, globally, all around the world.
Every person has a different device and may have different cellular connectivity. It’s honestly a modern marvel that we’ve been able to pull off the system as it exists today.
Sometimes I receive a lot of feedback about PvP that I think always comes from a really good place. But once you start thinking about just how incredibly challenging that system is to build, I think people gain a better appreciation for it.
PvE Battle Modes, Z-Moves, and Terastallization
We wrapped up by asking about several highly requested features.
GO Hub: Are there any plans for a PvE equivalent of GO Battle League, such as a Battle Frontier-style mode or something similar to Dynamax Adventures?
Michael Steranka: Nothing to share on that front today.
GO Hub: And what about Z-Moves and Terastallization?
Michael Steranka: Also nothing to share today.
Do note that Steranka was smiling devilishly throughout this.
Final Thoughts
While Steranka understandably stopped short of revealing unannounced features, the interview still offered several noteworthy insights into Pokémon GO’s future.
Most notably, Scopely says Remote Raids are here to stay, Gyms are actively being evaluated for future improvements, and Arceus and other unreleased Pokémon are being intentionally held back until the team feels they can introduce them in a way that does justice to their unique mechanics.
Although there was nothing new to share regarding PvE battle modes, Z-Moves, or Terastallization, the overall message was clear: Pokémon GO’s developers continue to view the game as a long-term platform, with the next decade focused on strengthening community, creating memorable experiences, and finding new ways to bring Pokémon into the world of Pokémon GO.
