Pokemon Go developer Niantic has announced some big changes to the mobile game, as starting in October, progression is being completely overhauled. Not only is the level cap being raised substantially from 50 to 80, but players can also expect several other changes geared toward making progression feel more meaningful with new rewards and cosmetics.
The update will go live on October 15, and existing players will have their levels determined based on their total earned XP to date. Niantic says no player will go down a level and there’ll also be a limited-time update with XP bonuses and a Timed Research event. Here’s a breakdown of all the changes:
- Level cap increases from 50 to 80
- Tasks for Level-Up Research for levels 41 to 50 will be removed
- New Level-Up Research tasks will be added to levels 71 to 80
- Players at level 70 and higher will have an increased chance of becoming Lucky Friends with other players
- New rewards will be added to level-up progression, like increased storage capacity for Pokemon, items, and gifts.
- New avatar items can be earned starting at level 25
Players who experience a jump up in level will receive rewards associated with reaching those levels at that time, and Niantic will share details on these at a later date. Before the update goes live, players can also earn new cosmetics by reaching levels 40 through 50. The items include a Level 50 Jacket and an all-new avatar pose, and these will not be available once the leveling overhaul is implemented.