Niantic Has Released the Latest Version of Pokémon GO

Niantic has been dragging out their latest Pokémon GO release, but Generation 4 has finally arrived.  Technically, that is, but not in full.  Niantic is going to channel Generation 3 and release the 100 + new Generation 4 Pokémon in waves.  That said, we’re now starting to see who exactly is in the game.    Niantic has said that the three starters (at the very least) would be in the game as of this week.  This was relayed in an announcement recently, but as Pokémon Go players are hunting in the world, there are a lot more Pokémon besides just the new ones that have been teased and announced in the last few days.  What gives Niantic?

Niantic made the following announcement on their blog:

The adventure continues …

The world of Pokémon GO is evolving once again! This week, keep an eye out for Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region, featured in Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, and Pokémon Platinum! Get ready to see Pokémon like Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup as they appear in Pokémon GO for the first time ever.

Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region will be making their way to Pokémon GO in waves! So, you can look forward to discovering even more Pokémon over the next few weeks appearing in the wild, hatching from Eggs, and battling in raids. Stay tuned to our official channels for updates about new Pokémon, new features, and expansions to existing features like Pokémon storage and more!

There will be more added to this list, but as of right now this is who has been seen in the wild:

• Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra
• Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon
• Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape
• Starly, Staravia, Staraptor
• Cricketot (2 km eggs), Kricketune
• Bidoof, Bibarel
• Buneary, Lopunny
• Chatot (possible southern hemisphere regional)
• Carnivine (reports mainly from the southern US)
• Pachirisu (possible arctic regional)
• Riolu (10 km eggs only)
• Luxio (10 km eggs only)
• Shinx (raid only)

But what does this mean?  Maybe nothing as there doesn’t seem to be a link between any of the new Pokémon.  The three starters are obviously diverse types – grass, fire, water, but then there are also flying, normal and bug types in there as well.  In addition, there’s at least one more grass type in Carnivine.  As I’ve indicated, this likely isn’t the full list just yet, but why tease some and then release a bunch more?  Why not just tease all of them?

The official trailer shows off other Generation 4’s like Munchlax, Glaceon, and Leafeon, which are evolutions, or pre-evolutions of existing Pokémon.  But these haven’t been reported as being seen yet.  See what I’m saying?  There are a lot of Gen 4 Pokémon that are evolutions of previous generations, but it does not seem any of those are live yet.

If this does end up being the full list, that’s 20 Generation 4 Pokémon that are in the game now.  If the game is released in 4-5 waves, as we think it might be, then there’s a good chance that there will be about 100 new Pokémon out there to catch.  Of course, it may take weeks or months to release, but at least there will be something new to look forward to.