Pokemon Go Adding Online Battles Next Year

Last year, Pokemon Go finally introduced PvP battles to the mix, giving players the option to take on other trainers in head-to-head Pokemon battles. Since the feature arrived, however, you have only been able to battle other players in-person, but Niantic will soon let you compete against other trainers around the world.

On the official Pokemon Go website, Niantic announced a new battle feature called the Go Battle League. While the studio didn’t share many details on the feature, it did confirm you’ll be able to “battle opponents from around the globe through an online matching system and rise in the ranks of the league.”

To gain entry in the Go Battle League, Niantic says you’ll first need to “walk,” although the studio didn’t elaborate further on what that means. The Go Battle League is slated to launch sometime in early 2020. Niantic says more details about the feature will be revealed in a developer video “soon.”

In the meantime, Pokemon Go’s Halloween 2019 celebration is underway. As part of this year’s event, you can encounter costume-wearing versions of Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle in Raid Battles, while Pikachu wearing a Mimikyu costume can be found in the wild. The Mythical Pokemon Darkrai is also appearing in Raids for a limited time, and you have your first chance to catch a Shiny Yamask.

There are lots of other events lined up for November. From November 1-4, the Regi trio will return to five-star Raid Battles, while Regigigas will make its debut in EX Raids later in the month. If you can’t wait to encounter it, Niantic is holding a “Colossal Discovery” Special Research story event centered on the new Legendary on November 2, but you need to purchase a ticket to participate.

Finally, Pokemon Go’s November Community Day is set for Saturday, November 16–the day after Pokemon Sword and Shield launch on Nintendo Switch. The featured Pokemon this month will be Chimchar, the Fire-type starter from Diamond and Pearl.