Pokemon GO trainers have been enjoying some added bonuses that make the game easier to play from home for the last month or so. The play-at-home limited time features increase the effectiveness of Incense, add bonus damage for Remote Raiding, increase the limit on Gift activity and more. As more states begin to relax their lockdown and shelter-in-place orders, many fans of the mobile AR game have started to wonder if the bonuses may be coming to an end in the near future.
Niantic's twitter account responded to questions about how long the bonuses were going to last by confirming that the current play-at-home features listed on the PoGO Today View will be in place through July 1, 2020. There's no guarantee that these Pokemon GO features will disappear when June ends, but it sounds like Niantic is just taking things one month at a home and planning to support remote play through all of June for trainers who are still trying to avoid crowds and play remotely for a few more weeks.
When the risks surrounding interacting in groups eventually fades away, Niantic is going to be left with some very tough decisions. There's no denying that Pokemon GO is forever changed by this period of stay-at-home play and many trainers are interacting with the game in ways they never have before. Although some features like Remote Raiding are here to stay, it will be very interesting to see what happens with something like Incense. The previously pretty unpopular items now has a major use and gives players stuck in one place an actual opportunity to participate in the game.
Bonus Features Running Through July 1
2x Incense duration
Increased Incense effectiveness
Open 1.5x as many Gifts
Hold 2x as many Gifts in your Item Bag
No walking requirement for the GO Battle League
1/2 Hatch Distance
Boosted damage for Trainers battling remotely in raids
For now, players may want to keep hunting down the best Unova Pokemon in the game if improving their Battle Raid rosters is their primary goal. Be sure to check back in the near future for more Pokemon GO strategy guides, news, and updates. Until then, good luck out there, trainers!
Pokemon GO is available now in select regions on Android and iOS devices.
Source: Pokemon GO Twitter