Pokemon Go mobile augmented reality game. (Photo : LinkyLinky Link/YouTube)
Cheating and hacking are likely to become harder when playing Pokémon GO but Niantic Labs is making sure that the fun and excitement will stay. New codes that the game app already carries but only recently detected suggest that Pokémon Trading, the Legendaries, virtual reality or VR Gameplay and other big feature upgrades will soon be activated.
Business Insider provided a quick rundown of soon-to-come Pokémon GO features generously shared through Reddit posts:
Trading
As promised by Niantic, Trading will soon become a key feature of Pokémon GO and Redditors claimed the phrases "Trade_search" and "Trade_offer" already exist in the current version of the game app. When activated, players will be allowed to browse through a list of players ready to swap and their specific list of Pokémon to be dispatched.
Legendaries
A placeholder for the rare Pokémon Legends has also been unearthed by hardworking Redditors. The Legendaries seem to be hinted by "activity_catch_legend_pokemon" phrase in the game, somehow indicating that these rare Pokémon will soon be available to hunt and catch.
But there were initial suggestions that as the Legends will prove hard to trap, they will serve as game rewards or giveaways.
Trainer Buddy
Soon Pikachu or whichever Trainer that a player users will have a buddy as teased by the references revealed by the Reddit posts. One can assign a Buddy Pokémon the moment the feature goes live that would then "follow you as you walk and collect candies to evolve," Business Insider said.
Special Incense
Redditors revealed too that the existing Incense will get an upgrade soon as referenced by the placeholders "Item_incense_cool" and "Item_incense_floral". It's likely that the Special Incense will still attract Pokémon and the effect lasting 30 minutes. But the "scent" will lure in specific types of Pokémon - ice, water, grass and the bug kinds.
VR Gameplay
Business Insider said that playing Pokémon GO will soon be paired with the easy-to-get Google Cardboard as suggested by the presence of VR folder in the game code. That means Virtual Reality Gameplay will become and integrated (and optional) feature of the game.
But as Pokémon GO mostly requires miles and miles of walking, BGR notes in a report that Niantic is likely to provide specific safety precautions during VR Gameplay mode. And when these feature bumps will become available remains a mystery.
