Pokemon GO Raid Changs May Be Bad for Remote Players

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New updates to Pokémon GO‘s Mega Raids might make it easier for players to raid in person, but harder for those joining remotely. Recent leaks suggest a new in-game currency will be linked to raiding, and it could end up being a disadvantage for players who can’t attend raids physically. Mega Raids allow players to obtain powerful Pokémon, but it looks like remote players may soon have to pay extra to participate.

Mega Raids were introduced to Pokémon GO in late summer 2020 and quickly became a regular part of the game’s raid schedule. These battles feature Pokémon that have Mega Evolved, making them challenging—usually at least Tier-4 difficulty—and best suited for experienced players. Unlike standard raids, Mega Raids offer better rewards, including the chance to obtain Pokémon that can Mega Evolve and add them to your team.

Pokemon GO’s New Currency Could Make Life Harder for Remote Raid Players

As a big Pokémon GO player, I’m a little worried about some recent leaks. It looks like Niantic (through Scopely) might be making Mega Raids a lot more expensive if you want to do them remotely. Apparently, a new currency called Link Charge is coming, and one leak suggests we’ll have to spend 200 of it on top of a Remote Raid Pass just to join level 4 or 5 Mega Raids. Before, all we needed was the Raid Pass! The good news, though, is that it seems like showing up in person will give us more options for how we participate, which is nice. It’s just frustrating to think about having to pay extra to raid remotely.

Recent leaks suggest that players attending Mega Raids in person will have different requirements than those joining remotely. The new system might even be a little simpler for them. While a 200 Link Charge could still be necessary, in-person players will reportedly be able to use either the new in-game currency or a Raid Pass to participate – they won’t need both. Raid Passes are currently earned by spinning Gym Discs, completing Research Tasks, or buying them in the shop, but these changes would give in-person players another way to join Mega Raids if they run out of Passes.

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Scopely hasn’t officially confirmed these changes, but many players are unhappy with the potential updates to the Mega Raid system. A common concern is that the new currency makes things overly complicated. Many believe Scopely is trying to get players to spend more money, pointing out that Remote Raid Passes already cost a significant amount of coins, and this change could increase those costs. Players, particularly those in rural areas, also worry this adds to existing fairness issues. Rural players already have fewer opportunities to participate in Raids, Gym Battles, and PokeStop spins because these features are concentrated in cities, and the new fees could make it even harder for them to join in.

Image via Scopely

However, some players believe Scopely has even bigger plans. When the game initially launched in 2016 with Niantic as the developer, a key goal was to promote fitness and community by encouraging players to explore the real world and connect with each other using augmented reality. Some feel that allowing remote play has weakened that sense of community. If Scopely can rebuild it, they could potentially increase player engagement and spending, getting fans more invested in the game over the long term.

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2026-02-18 22:34