Niantic is once again going all out for Pokémon GO fans. In celebration of the Pokémon World Championships 2025, the game is getting a feature-loaded event that turns your phone into a battleground of epic rewards and thrilling encounters. From August 15 to 17, the mobile gaming world will collide with the esports spectacle in Anaheim, delivering a full-throttle GO Battle League experience that could change the way you play forever.
This is more than just a tie-in. Pokémon GO is stepping into the global spotlight with an update that drops new raids, field research, a shiny-capable varsity jacket Pikachu, battle pass rewards, and a storm of cosmetic items that make sure your avatar stands out on the digital battlefield. Whether you're a die-hard battler or just a collector who wants that one rare shiny, this event has something that will pull you back into the game.
The headliner of the update is without a doubt the debut of Pikachu in a World Championships varsity jacket. This stylish electric icon is available through field research tasks and one-star raids, with lucky players even having the chance to catch a shiny version. Also showing up in one-star raids is Honedge, while Dusclops and Diggersby take over the three-star raid rotation. Field Research tasks are getting revamped too, bringing in more chances to find Marill, Paldean Wooper, and Honedge.
Those looking to power up their gameplay can pay $5 for an event-exclusive timed research, which includes a premium battle pass, a huge stash of Stardust, and higher encounter rates with specific Pokémon. Some of those encounters will even feature exclusive battle-ready moves. Lapras will know Ice Beam, while Primeape, Annihilape, and Clodsire will get new featured attacks to boost their utility in battles.
Customisation also takes center stage. Players can now dress their avatars in the official 2025 Worlds Jersey and Visors, available in the in-game shop. You can also collect limited edition stickers by spinning Pokéstops, opening gifts, or purchasing them directly. And if you're already prepping your team for the GO Battle League, get ready for a new battle arena and theme music that drops on August 11 and runs through August 17.
But the biggest gameplay bonuses are built for the competitive warriors. You’ll earn quadruple Stardust for wins, and the daily number of battle sets increases from five to twenty. Timed research focused entirely on battling will also be available for free, giving you even more incentive to take on the world. Rewarded Pokémon from the GO Battle League will now show greater stat variance too, increasing the thrill of each catch.
The event ties into the broader esports extravaganza of the Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California. The Pokémon GO tournament will kick off each day at 9 AM PDT and be streamed live on Twitch. But Pokémon GO isn't the only star. Fans can also watch top-level matches for Pokémon Unite, the Trading Card Game, and the Video Game Championship played on Scarlet and Violet.
The structure across games is packed and professional. Unite will feature a round-robin group stage before moving into single elimination, while GO uses a double elimination bracket under Great League rules. TCG and VGC will both have junior, senior, and masters divisions with Swiss Rounds and Top Cut battles leading to intense finals on the last day.
Whether you're planning to watch the action unfold in Anaheim or jump into the game during the event window, this is one of the most ambitious Pokémon GO collaborations yet. It is a celebration of the competitive spirit, filled with rewards for every kind of player.
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