'Pokémon GO' Update: New Patch to Bring Major Gym Changes and Raids
It looks like there will be some changes to expect in the gyms of "Pokémon GO," at least based on the information extracted from the latest patch to hit the game.
Gyms in "Pokémon GO," despite their importance in the hit augmented reality game, are not really fleshed out the way players want them to.
However, dataminers at the Pokedev Discord have discovered in the new patch a batch of new phrases that suggest a more detailed notification system in "Pokémon GO" gyms.
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Some of the phrases inform gamers that their Pokémon "just has fought hard and returned" or "lost a battle" or even "defended the gym."
There's one about a Pokémon "back after a hard battle" and another about being "forced off the gym." There are phrases to notifying gamers that the Pokémon "fainted at the gym" or is "victorious in battle."
Right now, "Pokémon GO" only allows its players to drop off their Pokémon at the gym. If the gym icon is present, it means it has not been defeated yet.
When that icon is gone, it means the creature was beaten and will appear injured when players check back in on them. The references suggest that the game will be active in updating the trainers on how their Pokémon are doing in the gym.
That is not the only modification Niantic Labs is working on though. There are also uncovered phrases apprising players that the Pokémon "is hungry" or "wants a berry" or "needs a pick me up."
According to Forbes, this hints that "Pokémon GO" players will be tasked to make sure their Pokémon is in peak condition while in the gym and will have to keep an eye out for them instead of just leaving the Pokémon at the gym into oblivion.
Last but not the least, the dataminers also found references to raids. There is a mention of nearby raid notifications with phrases like "There's a raid about to start near you" and "A raid's going to start nearby."
On the surface, this suggests that "Pokémon GO" is finally getting raids. What exactly they will be about remains to be seen although Forbes imagines it will have something to do with Team Leaders popping up to guide players on their way to the gym that is the subject of the raid.
With all these references included in the recently rolled out patch, "Pokémon GO" players can count on them being officially added to the game sooner rather than later.
