Pokemon GO Remote Raids Get Surprise Upgrade

Key Takeaways

  • Niantic quietly updated Pokemon GO to simplify remote raid matchmaking with new settings.
  • Players can now easily join raids from friends list and turn on new feature in General Settings.
  • Changes improve gameplay for challenging Max Raids; still, limitations like entry costs and daily participation.

As a long-time Pokemon GO enthusiast who has struggled to coordinate remote raids with friends, I am absolutely thrilled about Niantic’s latest update! The ability to join raids directly from my friends list is a game-changer for me and many others who find it difficult to organize groups through external channels.


In an unexpected move, Niantic has introduced an essential enhancement to remote raids in the popular game, Pokemon GO. This update simplifies the process for friends to collaborate on tackling these challenging battles. The improvement was rolled out without any prior announcement from the Pokemon GO development team, but it’s a welcomed feature for players aiming to unite with companions to defeat and capture raid bosses.

Earlier, participating in remote raids involved some effort. Players either had to manually invite friends or share the raid code with those interested. Since only five extra trainers could be recruited, coordination was tricky without prior arrangement or external communication. With no in-game method available to find raid participants from far away, many found it challenging to handle them alone during community day events in Pokemon GO if they didn’t have a way to organize through other platforms.

With the recent update on remote raids, players now have the convenience of joining challenges directly from their friends list if someone is already in a raid lobby. Previously, trainers had to invite their companions directly, but this new feature provides an easy way for quick matchmaking. This improvement can be found under the General Settings within the game, and it could significantly aid players finding it challenging with Max Raids, which involve unique Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon.

Pokemon GO Remote Raid Update Makes Matchmaking Easy

Alongside a fresh matchmaking setup, Niantic has introduced a new sorting option for the friends list. This allows those actively participating in raids to appear at the top, rather than having to search through the entire list. These updates coincide with the ongoing Pokemon GO “Into the Wilds” event, where players can engage in unique challenges. With a variety of Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon available for battle, as well as these new features to try out, there’s no shortage of chances to put them to the test!

Making remote raids more attractive for participants involves significant improvements, but there are ongoing disadvantages when tackling these battles from afar compared to in-person. For one, the cost of participating can be high due to the items required to join the fight. Additionally, the damage output is lower and each player is only allowed a certain number of daily attempts. Players with fewer friends may not even perceive the advantage of this update, exacerbating the challenges faced by solo players in Pokemon GO. Despite these limitations, simplifying matchmaking makes a significant stride towards making remote raids more accessible and user-friendly.

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2024-11-21 00:33