Skip to main content

‘Pokémon Go’ adds new challenges and offers bonuses for playing daily

Pokémon Go continues to improve since its launch this past summer, but with several features still missing and an influx of AAA games during the holidays, you might be neglecting your virtual monster friends. Niantic’s latest update, however, will reward you with extra goodies for continuing to play every day.

“Trainers will soon be able to receive a bonus for certain daily activities, including catching a Pokémon or visiting a Pokéstop once a day,” Niantic wrote in a post on the game’s website. “You’ll earn a larger bonus if you do this seven days in a row!”

Recommended Videos

These bonuses give players a reason to go out and continue catching Pokémon, and the increased points for doing so every day in a given week are nothing to scoff at. While 500 XP and 600 Stardust will now be awarded for catching your first Pokémon of the day, the weekly bonus gives 2,000 XP and 2,400 Stardust, which should expedite the evolution of some of your new creatures.

Visiting a Pokéstop and collecting your items will earn you 500 XP, as well as “a number of additional items,” while the weekly bonus will provide 2,000 XP and “a greater number of additional items.”

The weekly bonuses for Pokémon Go will not be offered at the end of a given week. Instead, weeks will begin on Tuesday and bonuses will be handed out at midnight the following Wednesday.

The last major update Pokémon Go received was Halloween-themed, dishing out candy at up to four times the normal rate and featuring an increase in Ghost-type Pokémon, as well Zubat — because there aren’t enough of those in the game already.

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, the next major installments in the long-running series, are out for Nintendo 3DS on November 18. Their pre-order numbers are the highest for any game in Nintendo’s history.

Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Pokémon Legends: Z-A gets a huge new trailer and a fall release window
Pokemon runing in a neon city in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

An Extended Look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A!

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is coming in "late 2025," but the Japanese trailer specifically suggests a fall release — and Nintendo already confirmed a simultaneous global launch. Today's Pokémon Presents gave us another sneak peek at the upcoming game and revealed a lot more details than we previously had, including the new starters, combat style, rivals, and more.

Read more
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket adds trading next week, but there’s a catch
pokemon trading card game pocket announced lucario

Pokémon TCG Pocket: Space-Time Smackdown | Coming Soon!

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is getting two major updates next week. Trading will finally come to the mobile card game on January 29, while new cards are coming on January 30 via the Space-Time Smackdown booster set. Those hoping that trading will let them quickly fill out their collection might be disappointed by how it works, though.

Read more
Pokémon Go is ending support for certain older Android phones
pokemon go

In the eight years since Pokémon Go first made its way onto the global stage, the app has seen a lot of changes. While most have been beneficial updates, Niantic recently broke a bit of unfortunate news: Pokémon Go will lose support for 32-bit Android devices.

If you're on iPhone or a 64-bit Android device, don't worry; nothing will change for you. However, players using a Galaxy S5, OnePlus One, Sony Xperia Z3, and other devices of a similar age should consider upgrading their phone. Pokémon Go will no longer be accessible on those devices once the update goes live. Your account will still be there, but you won't be able to play or participate in events until you load the app up on a compatible device.

Read more