Pokémon Go lays out roadmap for removing many pandemic bonuses

After more than a year of gameplay bonuses designed to make Pokémon Go easier to play during the pandemic, developer Niantic has laid out a detailed roadmap for how it will remove, replace and adopt these changes in the future.

Some changes will be made permanent, though others – most notably the ability to interact with PokéStops and gyms at an increased distance – will be removed.

But changes will be made on a country-by-country basis, Niantic has said, and in the short term there will be new temporary “exploration bonuses” for countries which lose the pandemic changes soon.

Changes will be made first in New Zealand and the US, starting at the end of July. Daily gifts from buddy Pokémon will be reduced, Incense effectiveness will be reduced when stationary, and PokéStop/Gym interaction radius will revert back to its pre-pandemic status.