Throughout the week, Trainers have been working hard to catch three billion Pokémon! Yesterday, we hit the goal around 8:00 P.M. (ET). That means that Farfetch'd is spawning worldwide for the next 48 hours. For the region where Farfetch'd normally spawns, Kangaskhan will also be appearing.
Until 1:00 P.M. (PT) on December 1, the other rewards we unlocked will end. Those rewards include double XP, six-hour Lures, and double Stardust. The Pokémon GO Travel sale will end on December 4. With these rewards lasting longer, could we see Generation 3? It's still up in the air at the moment, but it seems increasingly likely. Stay tuned!
2. Ho, ho, Ho-Oh?!
Niantic has been teasing Ho-Oh for months now! From featuring it in the original Legendary Pokémon trailer, to giving it a stat-edit around Halloween, we've been looking out for Ho-Oh throughout the history of Legendaries. Well, they've thrown out the final, biggest tease: testing Ho-Oh Raids in Japan!
Japanese tracking sites have picked up test EX Raids containing Ho-Oh. The first, which took place yesterday, was in the Uradome coast. Uradome is the place where the Pokémon GO Travel team of YouTubers was yesterday. Could they have teamed up with some Niantic employees to test it out? The fact that no Passes were given out gives a lot of credibility to that theory. Oh, and by the way, the Gym where the Raid took place had a Pokémon GO Travel logo on the Photo Disc.
And, as a cherry on top, yet another test Raid was detected in Himeji, Japan, earlier today. Again, no reports of Pass distribution are known of, so it seems possible that these are more tests. The Pokémon GO Safari Zone in Tottori could also have something to do with this. Let's see what happens when Niantic posts a video today. What will you tell us, Rachel? SOURCE: GO Hub
3. Raid rework
Niantic has taken the unprecedented step in their communication history by giving us a detailed post with developer comments. That post detailed an overhaul to the EX Raid and regular Raid systems.
EX RAIDS: EX Raids will now take place primarily at sponsored Gyms and Gyms in parks. The EX Raid will also take place at times of high interaction for the specific Gym. This is all in an attempt for Niantic to increase accessibility of EX Raids. Passes will be given out to those active in Gyms and Raids, as determined by Gym Badge level and amount of Raids completed. Should an EX Raid need to be cancelled, you'll receive a notification and a compensation package of Premium Raid Passes and Stardust.
REGULAR RAIDS: Changes to regular Raids are also in effect. Less Potions and Revives, although higher quality of them, are being given. High-Tier Raids will also give more TM's, and Golden Razz Berries and 500 Stardust are guaranteed from each Raid.
4. We're almost out of time...
We know that the three Legendary Beasts aren't really that exciting anymore (especially after three months of them), but we are almost out of time to Raid them. Although their end-date was never announced, we can assume that they'll stop appearing some time on November 30. Also, reports have come in of a new wave of EX Raids in early December.
5. New update
A new update was announced this week. The update did not add any new content code, but it did fix many bugs. Such bugs include support for iPhone X, improved loading time, and the ability to power up a Pokémon to Level 40.
Around the time of the update's announcement came some new discoveries in the game's network traffic. Credible dataminer u/Chrales discovered a 3D model for Shiny Cleffa. More and more Shinies continue to be added to the server, although not Shiny Clefairy and Clefable. Also, move ID's for the Generation 3 moves (along with Origin Pulse and Precipice Blades) were discovered.