Skip to main content

‘Pokémon Go’ gets spooky this week with Halloween-themed event

Pokémon GO - Halloween Is Approaching...
Niantic’s wildly successful augmented reality mobile app Pokémon Go is getting a free update just in time for Halloween, and players can expect to encounter rare Pokémon more frequently as the holiday approaches.

In the days leading up to Halloween, Pokémon Go will also dole out increased candy rewards, which players can use to boost the stats of their collected critters.

Recommended Videos

Released for iOS and Android devices earlier this year, Pokémon Go is a free app that allows players to hunt down and capture virtual creatures using an augmented reality framework. Over the course of gameplay, players scour real-world locations for hidden Pokémon that they can then capture and add to a personalized database.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Collected Pokémon can also be deployed to capture Gyms, which are often located at local businesses or hot spots. Gym leaders shouldn’t rest easy, however, as rival Pokémon trainers can reclaim captured territory by engaging in battle with stationed creatures. In the months after Pokémon Go‘s launch, many Gyms remain hotly contested among veteran players, especially in largely populated areas or businesses with a significant degree of foot traffic.

Players who still need to fill out their Pokédexes will encounter many little-seen critters with greater frequency in the week before Halloween. After installing this week’s update, Pokémon trainers can expect to see first-generation Pokémon like Haunter, Gastly, Gengar, Zubat, Golbat, Drowzee, and Hypno pop up during their daily rounds.

Collecting every available creature in Pokémon Go is a difficult process, as many Pokémon only appear at night or in very specific real-world locations. This week’s update will make it easier for players to track down Ghost-type Pokémon before nightfall, making it a much safer and convenient process than usual.

While players can capture the Pokémon they encounter within the Pokémon Go app itself, publisher Nintendo recently produced a Bluetooth accessory that eases the process for experienced players. The Pokémon Go Plus is a wrist-worn device that vibrates when Pokémon are detected in its vicinity, and players can press a button on the face of the device to attempt to catch nearby creatures automatically.

Pokémon Go‘s free Halloween update is out now, and bonuses will remain active through November 1.

Danny Cowan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…
Perplexity, one of our favorite AI apps, just got a big update
Perplexity app shown on an iPhone.

If you've been looking for more than just traditional search engines, you may have turned to Perplexity. The app allows users to ask questions and receive quick, accurate answers from a carefully selected set of sources, all powered by ChatGPT. Now, a new software update is making Perplexity AI even better.

Perplexity Pages allows you to transform your research into visually engaging and comprehensive content. Whether you are creating detailed articles, reports, or informative guides, Perplexity Pages brings your ideas to life. This new tool simplifies organizing and sharing information, giving you more control. You also have the option to publish your work to Perplexity’s library of user-generated content, where you can showcase your expertise.

Read more
It took me 8 months to try out this fantastic iOS 17 feature
The iPhone 15 Pro Max with Standby mode on the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station.

It has taken me quite a while, but I’ve recently had a chance to try out a feature in iOS 17 that, until now, I had forgotten even existed. I’m talking about StandBy mode, and I feel a bit silly for having passed it by for so long, as it’s really good.

Why haven’t I used it until now? It turns out I just needed the right piece of hardware to come along.
What is StandBy mode?

Read more
The Division Resurgence: everything we know so far
Four people in military gear walking through the snowy, abandoned streets of New York

With news that The Division 3 is in development, it's understandable that some fans of Ubisoft's third-person shooter franchise may have overlooked an upcoming spinoff that's set to launch sometime this year. The Division Resurgence is a free-to-play mobile entry in the series that will bring all of the same thrills and kills to a much smaller screen. While you're waiting for this next outing (and all of the loot waiting within), take a look at what we know so far about The Division Resurgence.
Release date

The Division Resurgence does not have an exact release date quite yet. The game has been delayed multiple times, but Ubisoft has stated that players can now expect to get their hands on it at some point in late 2024.

Read more