Pokemon GO Kanto Event: Remote Play, Special Research, and Wiglett Surprise

In celebration of the franchise's origins, Pokemon GO has launched the Rediscover Kanto event, inviting players to revisit the classic first region of the Pokemon series. The event, which is set to run from April 22 to May 9, 2024, features a variety of activities including the capture of the Original 151 Pokemon and completing themed research tasks. Players can take advantage of biome-specific spawns, with different areas of the game world hosting unique Pokemon. In addition to regular Field Research tasks, the event offers challenging Special Research tasks that provide more substantial rewards.

The Rediscover Kanto event introduces new bonuses such as increased friendship levels and a higher chance of encountering Shiny versions of Bulbasaur, Charizard, and Squirtle. Players will also have the opportunity to obtain Pokemon with featured attacks by evolving certain species during the event. Moreover, the event marks the debut of Wiglett, a Gen IX Pokemon, which has been met with both excitement and confusion due to its introduction during a Kanto-focused event.

Amidst the updates, two trainers based in Antarctica have garnered attention after a request on Reddit led to the opening of a PokéStop at their station, allowing them to fully participate in the event and broader game. This development highlights Niantic's willingness to engage with its global player community.

While some players have expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a lack of challenge in the Special Research tasks, others have praised the event for its generous XP rewards, which assist players in advancing their levels. Additionally, the game has introduced updates to player avatars, including a wider range of skin tones, resulting in mixed reviews from the community.