SAN FRANCISCO�JUNE 19, 2017�Niantic, Inc., and The Pok�mon Company International today revealed dynamic new ways for Trainers to play and explore together this summer with significant updates to Pok�mon GO. Beginning today, revamped Gyms will begin rolling out to players, while a later update will introduce a brand-new cooperative group gameplay feature, Raid Battles. These features will be added as free updates to the game, which can be downloaded now on the App Store and Google Play.

Coming soon to Trainers worldwide, Gyms in Pok�mon GO are undergoing a major renovation to make ownership more collaborative, and to encourage all players to visit friendly Gyms and engage with them in a variety of new ways. The new Gyms will add a spinnable Photo Disc (just like Pok�Stops) that will distribute unique items. Trainers will also receive Gym Badges�mementos of adventures that they can level up, increased rewards, and bonus items at Gyms.

Gyms will now feature six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team�s Pok�mon, and opposing teams will battle Pok�mon in the order they were assigned to the Gym. The new motivation system introduces an interactive factor for Pok�mon assigned to a Gym that will impact their potential Combat Power (CP). Pok�mon defending a Gym will lose motivation over time and as they are defeated, lowering their CP and making it easier for opposing teams to defeat them. Trainers from the same team can give defending Pok�mon some Berries to keep them motivated.

Raid Battles, the brand-new cooperative social gameplay experience, will be coming in another update in the weeks ahead. Trainers will have the opportunity to virtually team up with others nearby and work together to defeat extremely powerful Pok�mon known as Raid Bosses. Raid Battles are timed in-game events that will temporarily take over a Gym, providing Trainers from all teams the chance to visit the Gym and group up together to defeat the Raid Boss and earn special new items along with an opportunity to catch these Pok�mon. Friends can also create Private Raid groups via a customizable code system that allows Trainers to invite their friends to a specific Raid group.

To learn more about Pok�mon GO�s new Gym update and upcoming Raid Battles feature, please visit the official Pok�mon GO blog at PokemonGOLive.com.

Niantic and The Pok�mon Company recently announced a variety of in-game and real-world activities that will bring Trainers together in new and unique ways this summer to celebrate Pok�mon GO�s first anniversary. The first live Pok�mon GO event organized by Niantic, Pok�mon GO Fest, will be hosted in Chicago�s Grant Park on July 22. Tickets for Pok�mon GO Fest will be on sale on June 19 at 10:00 a.m. PT at www.PokemonGoLive.com/Fest.

Trainers can also stay up-to-date on Pok�mon GO announcements by following the game on Twitter or liking it on Facebook.