Ever since Pokémon GO launched back in July 2016, one of the most heavily requested features from fans has been player vs player battles. Considering battling has always been one of the most important features in the series, this makes an awful lot of sense, but the mobile phenomenon's developer Niantic hasn't exactly been forthcoming about when it might appear in the game. Until now, that is.
In an interview with Polish publication Gram, Niantic's head of product marketing Anne Beuttenmüller was asked about any features which might be currently being planned for the game. Her response will no doubt please Pokémon GO players all around the world:
"Now we are working on the PvP mode, which will soon appear. In addition, we’re still working on improving the feature that has just made its debut – it’s all about friends, such as the ability to exchange Pokemon in the game...
We are constantly improving the elements that we have available in the game and the next thing that we want to add at the end of this year is the PvP mode."
On top of this, Beuttenmüller revealed that Niantic is currently working on improvements for the recently added Friend and Trading features (as you can see above), and also mentioned that more new Pokémon will eventually come to the game. This last confirmation is hardly surprising, given that Niantic seems to be slowly working its way through each generation, but it's nice to have it officially confirmed nonetheless.
Of course, the addition of player vs player battles will raise as many questions as answers, mostly relating to how the feature will work. Will the battles act in a similar way to Raid Battles, with players simply throwing in a strong Pokémon and mostly bashing their screens, or will a more traditional approach to move selection be implemented, acting more in line with the mainline series? With Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! also launching near the end of the year, will players be able to battle each other across both games?
It's all still a mystery for now, but we're sure we'll hear lots more about this as the months go by. In the meantime, why not let us know if you'd like to jump into some battles against your friends with a comment below.
[source usgamer.net]
Comments 16
I'd really like if I could battle folks that aren't withing 15 feet of me. It's hard enough hitting gyms and stops where I live. You've got to make a conscious effort to go into town. If I'm doing that, I'm probably running errands or working, not trying to walk around in humid southern swamp temps.
@NintendoFan4Lyf But...war never changes(?)
PvP battles would be cool if we get items from it, otherwise it would just be two people randomly tapping some screens.
...But I'm just waiting for Sinnoh Pokémon
Sweet. Just like trading we can expect 'soon' to mean something like 1 to 2 years.
@Kimyonaakuma I imagine both players wagering some stardust with winner takes all.
The issue at the minute is the battle system. It doesn't lend itself well to Vs battles beyond who can tap the screen the fastest which doesn't sound much fun.
I'd much rather they added the ability to use some of your Pokémon as a steed whilst travelling the map.
I have absolutely zero interest in battling human players with the battle system as it currently is. There is no real tactics of strategy to it. Just pick a type advantage and mash the screen. It's perfectly fine for gyms and raid battles, but hold little interest in PvP.
However, I do hope gen 4 Pokemon are introduced relatively soon. I am almost caught up with the currently obtainable Pokemon. Only missing region exclusives and a handful of evolutions that I need more candy for. Oh, and Porygon, because Niantic loves trolling me. I have 4 Up-grades and have never seen a Porygon...
It's about damn time!
This is a feature that should have been there from the start. It’s ridiculous that it took them over two years to get this and trading up and running.
You looked at me funny! Let's battle!
It will be great if they change up the current battle system currently you just tap tap tap, if they would use the battle system from the handheld games that would be much better. I wonder what this means if anything for the Nintendo Switch titles?
It seems like the battling would be totally stupid if it’s just two people tapping on the screen... they need to completely revamp the system for this.
@Heavyarms55 Porygon is a raid boss exclusive IIRC.
I hope the long wait was so they could get it right.
People who moan about it not being out yet would have been the biggest moaners if it had come out broken.
Anyway, I'm not too fussed about battling. I play to CATCH EM ALL!
@thesilverbrick @jswhitfield8 Another way to look at this is that Niantic could not have had PvP in Pokémon Go from the start. Unlike Gamefreak, Niantic had to build it's game & battling system from scratch - this takes time and a lot of work, if Niantic simply held Pokémon back then they risked a competitor stealing their thunder (look at Jurassic World Alive... imagine that came out first & PoGo looked like the clone).
Obviously the downside to launching first & adding in basic features like trading & battling is MAJORLY annoying their fanbase (I was pretty salty about it for a while)... the upside however is that both those things now count as NEW features and may bring players back in.
@Heavyarms55 You're spot on, as it is the battle system is terrible for PvP & it's hard to see how they could change it in a way that would be fun. This is especially tough because Pokémon can only learn 2 moves & generally it's better to have 2 STAB moves for raids. If it's just Gym Battles but against an opponent, I'm against it.
@Octane I know, and I haven't had a chance to fight it.
@RadioHedgeFund I like your steed idea, and would like to add a Pokemon you can assign to 'fly' on which could also allow you to ride in a car or train and still get stuff like 'adjusted' progress on partner candy and hatching eggs. Like travelling 5km at vehicle speeds amounts to 1km walking distance when the app is open instead of shutting it off any time you go over 10km/h or so.
@AshFoxX I like that idea! Maybe not sure though!
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