‘Pokemon GO’ Latest News: Next Major Update Focuses on Gym Overhaul; Niantic CEO Hints PvP Trading & Battles

Niantic CEO John Hanke confirmed that the next big "Pokemon GO" update will focus on gym rework. Hanke previously shared at the Mobile World Congress 2017 that there will be three more major updates in 2017. Gym overhaul, PvP and trading are among some of the speculated features that will be introduced in the game later in the year.

During a German interview with Wired, as translated by PokemonGoHub, Hanke said that there is very limited gameplay in the "Pokemon GO" arenas. The gyms simply do not function as well as trainers wish, so Niantic decided to rework these to provide the player with more teamwork, incentives, and rewards for joining. The first major update in 2017 showcased the arrival of Gen 2 Pokemon. The gym rework will be the second major update of the year.

According to Hanke, they had little time to innovate since they had to work on real time problems with their problem and technology. The CEO admitted that the current gym system is unfinished and shared that they learned how similar goals help communities work together. "Pokemon GO" trainers can expect to have significant gym improvements soon, which may encourage them to participate.

Hanke also revealed that they are also working on the most diverse features to deliver their final goals. He hinted that they are developing how players can trade Pokemon and battle each other soon. Senior Product Manager Tatsuo Nomura previously said that trading will most likely be done in close proximity, instead of via the internet. Niantic also aims to introduce legendary Pokemon, namely Mew, Mewtwo and the three elemental birds that correspond to each team. Hanke said that they will provide more details about these upcoming "Pokemon Go" features later in the year.

According to Hanke, it is not the fault of some "Pokemon GO" players who use tools that are publicly available to cheat, specifically GPS spoofers. He said that it is Niantic's responsible for addressing the existing issues and guaranteeing a fair playing environment for all trainers. The official release date of the next major update has yet to be announced.