Summary

Niantic’s popularPokemon-catching AR mobile game,Pokemon GO, has been in players' hands for nearly eight years now, and while many of its features have grown stale, it has remained successful. Now, it appears Niantic is aiming to revivePokemon GO’s viral days with its upcoming Rediscover GO campaign — an event in which several updates will be added toPokemon GOthat have the potential to make the game feel new again.

Beginning onApril 17 and continuing through to May 7,Pokemon GOwill be launching its Rediscover GO campaign, which includes a series of four significant gameplay and visual updates to the hit mobile game. While Niantic has remained fairly cryptic about the full extent of the campaign, especially in its trailer, it seems as though Rediscover GO is an attempt byPokemon GOto get back on the radar and renew that same feeling players had when the game first launched in 2016. Each update will likely be explained in more detail as they are added to the game, but there is already enough information available to give players a general idea of all that Rediscover GO will entail.

Pokémon GO Tag Page Cover Art

Pokemon GO’s Rediscover GO Campaign Explained

“Rediscover Yourself” Launches on April 17 and Will Prioritize Avatar Customization

The first update that will launch duringPokemon GO’s Rediscover GO event is the “Rediscover Yourself” update. Beginning on April 17, players will be allowed to customize their avatar like never before, with more customization options than the game has ever seen. The Style Shop will receive more options to choose from, allowing players an unprecedented amount of freedom to personalize theirPokemon GOavatar.

“Rediscover Your World” and “Rediscover Kanto” Launch on April 22 and Will Feature Updated Visuals and Old Pokemon

On April 22, Earth Day,Pokemon GOwill receive both the “Rediscover Your World” and “Rediscover Kanto” updates. “Rediscover Your World” will enhance the game’s visuals, specifically when it comes toPokemon GO’s AR mode. According to the official description on the website, “Rediscover Your World” will include “refreshed visuals now dynamically enhancing your real-world surroundings in a fun and ecologically accurate way.” In addition to updated visuals, “Rediscover Your World” will provide updates to the game’s map and encounter and battle screens.

…it appears Niantic is aiming to revivePokemon GO’s viral days with its upcoming Rediscover GO campaign…

“Rediscover Kanto” is much more than a visual update, as it will bring back the Generation 1 Pokemon that populated the game when it first launched. While some players have expressed their dissatisfaction with this decision, it will at least give new players an opportunity to playPokemon GOthe way it was meant to be played.

“Rediscover Your Reality” Launches on May 7 and Will Update the Game’s Snapshot Feature

Pokemon GO’s “Rediscover Your Reality” update is the fourth and final update in the Rediscover GO event and will launch on May 7. “Rediscover Your Reality” will add a revamped GOSnapshot feature toPokemon GOthat will allow players to include up to three Pokemon in a single photo.

As each update forPokemon GO’s Rediscover GO campaign rolls out beginning on April 17, players will experience firsthand the full extent of each addition, but it appears the vast majority of the updates will focus on improving the mobile game’s quality of life while attempting to revive the nostalgia it once thrived on. Time will tell whether these updates ultimately accomplish their purpose, but there is little reason why updates toPokemon GO’s quality of lifeand visuals would be viewed as a downside to the game. Rediscover GO may very well breathe new life into the seven-year-old game.