Update: Just a couple of hours after we reported on the rumoured app, it became a reality. Pokémon Pass has now been officially revealed and is available to download right now on Android and iOS in the US.
We have a trailer and more information for you below:
The Pokémon Pass app connects you with great Pokémon digital rewards when you visit participating retailers in your area. Sign in with your free Pokémon Trainer Club account, and then get notified of upcoming events happening at a store near you. When you visit the store, use your phone's camera to scan codes to unlock gifts, such as in-game items for Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! and photo stickers for your phone.

Pokémon Pass is free to download and use for Android devices and the iPhone. To use the app, you'll need to enable location services and grant permission for the app to use your phone's camera. You'll also need a free Pokémon Trainer Club account, which you can create on Pokemon.com. The features of Pokémon Pass are currently available only in the United States.
Download the app today to receive a POKÉMON Detective Pikachu photo sticker based on the movie! Place the sticker and snap a photo with the app's camera function to add Pokémon flair to your shot!
With Pokémon Pass, add a little Pokémon fun to your next trip to the store!
Original Article: It looks like a brand new Pokémon smartphone app called Pokémon Pass could be just days away from release, potentially giving those who download it a chance to grab rare, shiny Pokémon and other exclusive goodies.
Twitter user @Tsukento has shared the following two images online, seemingly showing new pieces of advertising released by The Pokémon Company. As you can see, Pokémon Pass has its own logo and looks set to be available on both Android and iOS devices.


@Tsukento notes that the marketing materials were spotted at Target and that the QR code featured on the advertisement currently leads to a dead link. If we're reading into the advertisement correctly, it would appear that users will have to download the app and use that to scan the QR code shown to receive the goods - currently consisting of shiny Pokémon in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and a Psyduck sticker based on the new Detective Pikachu movie.
The messaging states that these offers will start on 11th May, so we imagine the app will become available on that date or just before.
As always, it's worth noting that we haven't received any official word on this app just yet. We wouldn't get too excited at the possibilities this app could bring until we know it's coming for certain, but it looks like we'll know soon enough in the coming days.
What do you think the app might provide? How would you like an app like this to be used? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
[source twitter.com, via pokemon.com]
Comments 48
Could be interesting, I'd love it if this replaced visiting stores for event Pokémon!
I have shiny female Raichu, would love to get a shiny Espeon!
This would make sense bringing Mystery Gift into modern times. People are more likely to bring their phone than their Switch.
@Kimyonaakuma if anything it will alleviate the headache of going to the store the day it’s supposed to be out and them not having the code yet or stores running out of codes. still have to go to the store to scan the code tho i imagine an image of the code could just be posted online
If anything I'd love this to get rid of those pesky region exclusive event pokémon. Give it to everybody or give it to nobody.
This isn't a rumour, Serebii already reported on it yesterday.
https://twitter.com/SerebiiNet/status/1123307266126561280
It appears that this event is US based, but I'm wondering if the Pokémon Pass app will be a worldwide feature.
It makes sense for events going forward, visit participating locations and scan the code with your app, which is linked to any Pokémon accounts conceivable be it Pokémon Go, a Nintendo Account for the Switch, Pokémon Global Link, etc.
Maybe I've been away from Pokémon games for too long. What are stickers used for? Is this something found in the "Let's Go" games or Pokémon Go?
@dkxcalibur
It's likely the stickers you can use in iMessage and stuff. You drag them onto messages.
Hopefully this replaces those clunky codes. Maybe we could even get some sort of IRL quest relating to an in game event? That would be dope!
Just give me my Pokemon Bank on Switch
I'm up for anything that replaces these stupid store codes.
Here's to hoping this changes events for the better. The internet distributions always made more sense versus the in-store ones. I'd have to drive well over an hour to the nearest Target for example.
The app is available already on the US Play Store
5th of November? Sounds like a good Sword and Shield release date if you ask me. They're probably gearing up to announce that officially, then. Will definitely work with the new games in some fashion (though I don't know how since Switch doesn't exactly have a camera)
Probably something like Final Fantasy Portal - news, quizzes, events, some franchise overviews, maybe a mini-game or two. Not sure if I'd bother with it anytime soon, but it's objectively neat.
I just installed it. Before using it it is necessary to go to your Poemon account and opt in for Pokemon Pass marketing.
There are 3 offers all at Target:
Shiny Pikachu or Eevee - from May 11
Psyduck photo sticker - from May 11
Mr Mime photo sticker - from May 11
You also get a Detective Pikachu photo sticker just for logging in
@MysticGengar @dkxcalibur stickers are for pictures, the app has a camera mode.
They apparently limited it to Target now, the app is on the playstore so you guys can check it out... But for me there is no Target within hours so I guess they actually made promo pokemon worse for me, I have gamestop but not target... Not driving a couple hours for a shiny, stupid corporate deals
Once again Nintendo screws over Canadians, and anybody else who doesn't live in the U.S.
@ShadJV
Oh okay! That makes sense.
Maybe I spoke too soon! 😂
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo you still gotta go over to the store. Just with this app. THANKS FOR NOTHING, LADS.
I checked it out on the Google Play website instead of via mobile app itself, and it won't allow me to install it to my OnePlus 3T (ONEPLUS A3003).
There's no reason that my OnePlus 3T shouldn't be compatible, it feels more like they're arbitrarily restricting it for one reason or another.
Let's be completely honest here. There will be folks who will take a picture of the QR Code and post it on the internet. Wouldn't be surprised if the QR Codes in the images above works.
It out on phones already you get stickers and Pokemon need a trainer account before use
@RupeeClock I have a Moto g6 it let me install it need a trainer account to use it
@TophatDragoneye
If the QR code displayed in retail stores operates on TOTP authentication, that won't work.
The QR code will regenerate every 30 seconds and only be valid for that time period. Both the scanner and the QR code generator must be synced up.
@andrew20
What territory? I live in the UK, so it could be a regional thing as this is a UK region device.
NO
It's 2019 Nintendo, I don't want to drive for 1 hour to a gaming store because in my country the only one Nintendo works with slowly goes away from smaller cities, there were plenty of direct download events on the 3ds games so stop with crap of needing AN APP above going to a store.
Direct download to the game at home is the only right solution.
@Yosher I'm sure the internet at large will post them so we don't have to traipse down there
@Archius9 I don't think that's how it will work. If it's anything like the Nintendo Zone Mystery Gifts or other such things, then you'll get a code you have to input in-game once you scanned the QR code, which will only work once.
Yep Im getting one.
Sounds like a natural evolution of the code based events.
Too bad it likely will make it even harder for me to get these events, since chances are you need to be in the store to redeem them.
@Mando44646 thats not coming til a few months after Sw&Sh release as it did with X&Y and S&M. gamefreak dosen't like letting people bring all their mons up to the new gen right away.
besides, they still haven't fixed that damn bug which prevents totem aloan marowak to be stored in pokebank
@Shadowmoon522 you have a big point they won't fix it I don't know why..
Welp there is a target around the corner from me.. Time for a shiny pikachu!
nothing for the UK?
@hanp01 they say there at target...
@RupeeClock Yep shows as incompatible on my Pixel 2, UK based. The error is "this item is not available in your country."
So the problem isn't device compatibility, it's geolocking. Which, in 2019, is dumb.
Oh fudge I just remember traffic is blocking target in my place mmmmmm.
@LuciferOnReddit @HipsterDashie
Geo-locking the app makes sense if the actual service is not being offered in all countries.
If there's nothing in the UK that Pokémon Pass can make use of, there's no point for the time being.
I'd like this, but in Australia.
Kinda sad to live in the Philippines, we don't get any. In play store, Nintendo Switch online is not available in our country, like some of Nintendo mobile games, then now Pokémon Pass too, even the Nintendo Switch e shop and settings doesn't have the Philippines in their list of supported countries.
Still waiting here in Canada. Hopefully we get it before the event ends.
If this will replace going to a store rep and asking for a card with the serial code, I'm all for it.
I already past experience with different Target and Best Buy where they didn't know about the event, had no more codes to give, and/or questionably stingy about giving it away. Gamestop was the only one that that is nice and knowledgeable overall with this.
I would also accept internet distributions but I guess they want to encourage people to go to physical retail stores in an age of E-commerce.
What about Australia??? The rest of the world???
@RupeeClock US
It's kinda stupid you get a shiny pikachu on lets go eevee and I have that game and Ill get a shiny pikachu I wanted shiny eevee poor me..
When is this available to Canadians
And what if there are no Targets in your country/province (specifically in Ontario Canada)
Will there be an equivalent/replacement to/of Target for those people who can’t get certain codes/rewards
Please let’s there be something where people like me who don’t live within a 1,000+km radius of a Target, I don’t want to be left out of an event bc I don’t live anywhere near a certain store! I don’t want it to happen again. Maybe the replacement can be EB Games or 7 Eleven, they are the only place I know had events like this in that past for other game franchises.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...