Pokémon Go developer Niantic has finally broken its silence on a game update that fans have been speculating about for weeks.
The company said in a blog post Wednesday it will release information on new Pokémon being added to the game on Dec. 12. Fans have been expecting an update adding Generation 2 Pokémon since early November, when dataminers looking at the game code found placeholders for new Pokémon. Since its launch in July, Pokémon Go has been populated by the original 151 creatures, with the game adding the shape-shifting Ditto in November.
More Pokémon are coming to #PokemonGO! Stay tuned for details on 12/12, Trainers! pic.twitter.com/KOfScNpKdr
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) December 7, 2016
Some fans thought the Gen 2 update might drop Thursday in conjunction with the launch of a new partnership between Pokémon Go and Starbucks. (News of the partnership spread after Starbucks internal training documents leaked online.)
Now it appears Niantic will be ready to make an announcement about the long-awaited Gen 2 update early next week, and it could potentially roll out the new monsters the same day or shortly thereafter.
In addition to hinting at new Pokémon, Niantic announced today it was forming a corporate partnership with Sprint. More than 10,500 Sprint, Boost Mobile, and Sprint at RadioShack locations will become PokéStops and gyms. Sprint stores will also add charging stations so you can top off your phone battery while stocking up on Poké Balls.
According to information leaked about the Starbucks partnership, Niantic also plans to add PokéStops and gyms at every corporate-operated Starbucks location that can support the feature.
That means lots of new gyms and PokéStops are on the way, perhaps just in time for a resurgence that could come with the Gen 2 update.