Pokemon Go: When Will the Gym Update Go Into Effect?

A new gym update is coming to Pokemon Go. (Niantic)

A new Pokemon Go update is now being released for iOS and Android devices. Some players have already received the update, and although it is meant to overhaul the gym system, these trainers will notice they still can’t access the gyms to test the new features. So what’s going on here? When will the gym changes go into effect?

Niantic had previously said that the gyms would remain shut down until all players receive the new update. Therefore, you shouldn’t get too excited when you download the latest version of the game; although the new features are there, they can’t be played just yet because gyms are still under construction.

“Once the update has been rolled out to players around the world, Gyms will return,” Niantic said in an announcement on Monday.

However, the gym update should be ready to play soon. The only setback is that it usually takes between 24 and 48 hours for iOS devices to receive the latest Pokemon Go updates. When the update finally makes its way to everyone on iOS, then, this is the point at which Niantic will active the gyms again.

Niantic with this latest update has completely changed the way that gyms function in Pokemon Go. In place of the leveling and prestige system, there’s now what’s being referred to as a “motivation system,” in which each Pokemon has a motivation bar that is gradually drained as it’s defeated in battle. Niantic has also implemented a few other changes, including not allowing more than one Pokemon of the same species in the same gym at once.

On the way is the Raid Battle system, which involves players teaming up to take down high-leveled Pokemon, possibly even legendary Pokemon. However, although the mechanics of this Raid Battle feature are in this most recent update, it won’t be activated for some time, with Niantic saying they will first roll out the feature as part of a beta lasting at least a week. The average Pokemon Go plan probably should not expect to play any Raid Battles until July.