Pokémon Go players have an extra incentive to care for the planet.
Players will be rewarded in the game for picking up trash in real life on April 22, developer Niantic announced on Wednesday. The developer is working with local organizations all over the globe to encourage Pokémon Go players to participate, the Verge reports, and the in-game rewards will increase as more people show up for the cause.
From Niantic:
All trainers will receive access to a special avatar item to celebrate Earth Day and those who work together to participate in the cleanups around the world will unlock unique in-game rewards for the entire world. If 1,500 trainers attend the events around the world, 2x catch stardust for ground, water, and grass-type pokémon will be unlocked for 48 hours. If more than 3,000 trainers participate in the clean up events, 3x catch stardust for ground, water, and grass-type pokémon for 48 hours will be unlocked for trainers around the world.
Niantic also rolled out 37 other events in 12 countries to support environmental protection for Earth Day.
“Earth Day is an incredible movement and opportunity to team up with friends and neighbors to focus on making the world and our own communities healthy and sustainable,” Niantic CEO John Hanke said in a statement.
The announcement comes just a week after a huge Pokémon Go update that added new research tasks and in-game challenges.
H/T the Verge