What's changed in Pokémon GO since you left

By Matt, MattSimplified 23 October 2026 5 min read

Quick answer

Pick the year you last played below and I'll show you every big change since, newest first. If you've been away a while, the biggest ones are: Scopely now runs the game, the trainer level cap is 80, Max Battles and Gigantamax arrived, raids now include shadow raids and Super Mega Raids, and you can do 10 remote raids a day.

Catch up

Everything that's changed, by date

Every change stays on this page. Picking a year just hides the ones from before you stopped.

When did you last play?

Showing all 45 big changes since launch.

October 2026ProgressShadow and purified can't fuse
Shadow and purified Pokémon can no longer be used in Fusions.
Read: Fusions
August 2026RaidsLevel up Megas with Mega Energy
You can now spend Mega Energy to raise a Mega Level straight away instead of waiting.
Read: Mega Evolution basics
July 2026GamePokémon GO turns ten
The 10th anniversary, with Mega Mewtwo X and Y in Super Mega Raids at GO Fest.
June 2026EventsSpotlight Hour moves to Thursday
Spotlight Hour is now Thursdays from 6 to 7pm. Giovanni now only appears at PokéStops, and Trainer Battles get a new battle system.
Read: Events explained
May 2026RaidsSeparate Mega Energy for X and Y
Pokémon with two Megas, like Charizard, now need separate Mega Energy for each form.
Read: Mega Evolution basics
March 2026EventsA fixed weekly schedule
Every day of the week gets its own bonus, like Max Monday and Friendship Friday. Pokémon rescued from Team GO Rocket can now be Shiny.
Read: Events explained
February 2026RaidsSuper Mega Raids and Link Charges
Tougher Mega Raids with shields that each player's Mega breaks. Link Charges arrive for entering Mega Raids, plus a new Super Max Mega Level and an official map at pokemongo.com/map.
Read: Super Mega Raids
December 2025SocialForever Friends and Remote Trades
A new friendship level above Best Friends unlocks Remote Trades at any distance. You can now have up to 650 friends.
Read: Trading, Lucky Trades and friends
Late 2025RaidsFive-star shadow raids every day
Shadow legendary raids used to be weekends only. Now they run every day until the next Shadow legendary replaces them.
Read: Shadow raids
October 2025ProgressLevel cap 80
The trainer level cap goes from 50 to 80, the whole XP curve is rebalanced and the level 41 to 50 tasks are removed. From level 15 you also get a free Daily Adventure Egg.
Read: Levelling up and Candy XL
September 2025SocialWeekly Challenges
Team up with up to three other Trainers on a weekly group challenge.
August 2025RaidsBigger Gigantamax battles
Gigantamax battles go up to 100 players, and you can invite up to 10 friends.
Read: Max Battles
June 2025EventsGO Pass
A monthly reward track. It's free, with an optional paid Deluxe track.
Read: Events explained
May 2025RaidsRemote raids back to 10 a day
The daily remote raid limit doubles to 10, and remote passes now work in shadow raids and Max Battles.
Read: Shadow raids
May 2025GameScopely now runs Pokémon GO
Niantic sold its games business, including Pokémon GO, to Scopely. The deal closed on 29 May 2025.
February 2025ProgressFusion: Kyurem
Kyurem can fuse with Zekrom or Reshiram into Black or White Kyurem.
Read: Fusions
January 2025RaidsShadow Raid Days and Dynamax Legendaries
The first Shadow Raid Day runs, and the first Legendary arrives in Max Battles.
Read: Shadow raids
December 2024SocialJoin friends' raids directly
Great Friends and higher can jump into a friend's raid from the friends list, no invite needed.
Read: Trading, Lucky Trades and friends
November 2024EventsMax Monday
A weekly Monday event with a featured Dynamax Pokémon and extra Power Spots.
Read: Events explained
October 2024RaidsGigantamax battles
Huge Gigantamax battles for big groups, split into teams of four.
Read: Max Battles
September 2024RaidsMax Battles and Power Spots
Dynamax Pokémon arrive. Battle them at Power Spots using Max Particles, in groups of up to four.
Read: Max Battles
May 2024ProgressFusion: Necrozma
Fuse Necrozma with Solgaleo or Lunala using Fusion Energy from raids.
Read: Fusions
April 2024GameNew avatars
Avatars are completely rebuilt, with new body types, hairstyles and clothes. Check yours when you log back in.
Read: Your first week back
October 2023SocialParty Play
Group up with up to three other Trainers to see each other on the map and share challenges.
July 2023EventsShowcases and Routes
PokéStop Showcases let you enter Pokémon in size contests, and Routes let you follow walking paths for rewards.
Read: Events explained
May 2023RaidsShadow raids
Raid against Shadow Pokémon, using Purified Gems to calm them down. In person only at first.
Read: Shadow raids
April 2023RaidsRemote raids limited
Remote Raid Passes get more expensive and you can only do 5 remote raids a day.
Read: Your first week back
October 2022RaidsElite Raids
Scheduled raids that hatch at set times and can only be done in person.
August 2022CatchingDaily Adventure Incense
A free 15 minute Incense every day that works while you're moving.
Read: Your first week back
April 2022RaidsMega Levels
Mega Evolving the same Pokémon again gets cheaper and earns bigger bonuses.
Read: Mega Evolution basics
December 2020ProgressLevel cap 50, Candy XL and seasons
The trainer level cap goes from 40 to 50, Candy XL lets you power Pokémon up to level 50, and the game starts running in seasons.
Read: Levelling up and Candy XL
August 2020RaidsMega Evolution
Mega Evolve Pokémon with Mega Energy from the new Mega Raids.
Read: Mega Evolution basics
April 2020RaidsRemote Raid Passes
Join raids from anywhere, or when a friend invites you, using a Remote Raid Pass.
Read: Your first week back
March 2020BattlesGO Battle League
Ranked online battles against players anywhere in the world.
March 2020RaidsEX Raids stop
Invite-only EX Raids were paused and never came back.
December 2019SocialBuddy Adventure
Your buddy follows you on the map, earns hearts and can become a Best Buddy for a level boost.
Read: Levelling up and Candy XL
July 2019BattlesTeam GO Rocket and Shadow Pokémon
Grunts invade PokéStops. Beat them to rescue Shadow Pokémon, which you can purify. Leaders and Giovanni follow later in the year.
Read: Team GO Rocket and purifying
December 2018BattlesTrainer Battles
Battle friends and nearby players in Great, Ultra and Master League.
June 2018SocialFriends, gifts and trading
You can add friends, send gifts, level up friendship and trade Pokémon for Stardust. Trades can come out Lucky.
Read: Trading, Lucky Trades and friends
March 2018ProgressField Research and Special Research
Spinning PokéStops gives research tasks, with a Research Breakthrough for every seven days of stamps. Story research begins with Mew.
December 2017CatchingWeather boost and Hoenn
Real-world weather changes what spawns and boosts some Pokémon. Generation 3 starts arriving.
July 2017RaidsLegendary raids
Legendary Pokémon arrive, and they're only catchable in five-star raids.
June 2017RaidsGyms rebuilt and raids begin
Gyms get six defender slots, motivation and a daily coin cap, and you can spin them for items. Raids launch the same month, with a free Raid Pass every day.
February 2017CatchingJohto Pokémon arrive
Generation 2 adds over 80 Pokémon, plus Nanab and Pinap Berries and new evolution items.
July 2016GamePokémon GO launches
The game launches with the original 151 Pokémon, PokéStops and the first version of Gyms.

This covers the big changes to how the game plays. New Pokémon arrive all the time, so they're not listed individually.

Start here

The four changes that matter most in 2026

RaidsRemote raiding is back

10 remote raids a day, and they work in shadow raids and Max Battles too. How to get started again.

New battle typeMax Battles

Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon at Power Spots, with their own currency. How Max Battles work.

RaidsShadow raids and Super Mega Raids

Two new raid types with their own mechanics: Purified Gems and shields. Shadow raids and Super Mega Raids.

ProgressLevel cap 80

Levelling is much faster than it was, and your level probably went up while you were away. Levelling up and Candy XL.

What's on this week?See my weekly guide

Common questions

What's changed FAQ

Who runs Pokémon GO now?

Scopely. Niantic sold its games business, including Pokémon GO, to Scopely, and the deal closed on 29 May 2025.

What is the max trainer level in Pokémon GO now?

Level 80. The cap went up from 50 on 15 October 2025.

Can you still do remote raids?

Yes. You can do up to 10 remote raids a day, including shadow raids and Max Battles.

Are EX Raids still a thing?

No. EX Raids were paused in March 2020 and never came back.

What are Max Battles?

Raid-style battles against Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon at Power Spots, added in September 2024.

Is Pokémon GO still getting updates in 2026?

Yes. 2026 alone brought Super Mega Raids, a fixed weekly event schedule and changes to Mega Evolution.

Keep going

More new and returning player guides

Every guide lives in the new and returning player guide.

Your first week backWhat to do first when you return to the game Shadow raidsEnrage, Purified Gems and Shadow legendaries Max BattlesPower Spots, Max Particles and Gigantamax Super Mega RaidsShields, Link Charges and the toughest Megas Team GO Rocket and purifyingGrunts, Leaders, Giovanni and when to purify Mega Evolution basicsMega Energy, Mega levels and the bonuses FusionsNecrozma and Kyurem fusions, explained Levelling up and Candy XLThe level 80 cap, Candy XL and what to power up Trading, Lucky Trades and friendsTrade costs, friendship levels and Lucky Friends Storage and bag managementStorage limits, clear-outs and search terms Events explainedCommunity Day, Spotlight Hour, Raid Hour and more

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