Pokemon Go Version 1.37.1 & 0.67.1: What Did the Update Change?

‘Pokemon Go’ is available for iOS and Android devices. (Niantic)

A new Pokemon Go update has just been released. What’s new in the latest version of the game?

It’s safe to say that this is the most significant update ever released for Pokemon Go. Version 1.37.1 for iOS, and 0.67.1 for Android, includes the highly-anticipated new gym system, a complete and total overhaul that will fundamentally change the way the game is played – at least, it will when gyms go back online, as they are currently under construction. Niantic has said that the gyms will be enabled again once this update has rolled out to players.

Now, the gym level and prestige system has been removed. It’s being replaced by what Niantic is referring to as a “motivation system.” Basically, every Pokemon in a gym now has a motivation meter above its head, which is indicated by a red heart. Pokemon will gradually lose motivation over time, and so you have to maintain their health by feeding them berries. Pokemon also lose CP when they lose motivation, therefore becoming easier to defeat over time unless you keep them healthy. When a Pokemon loses all of its motivation, it is kicked out of the gym.

There are several other major changes to the gym system as well, such as the fact that you can no longer place two members of the same species in the same gym together. Also, there are now only six slots for Pokemon in a gym, not 10. Plus, as you battle through a gym, you’ll face Pokemon in the order that they were placed there, first battling the Pokemon that has been in the gym longest. You also don’t have to battle every Pokemon in the gym; after each fight, you have the option of continuing or leaving.

That’s not all, though. Niantic has also implemented a gym badge system. These badges can be obtained by fighting in gyms, and the more you interact with the gym – whether it’s by battling in it, defending it or giving its Pokemon treats – the more you level that badge up. There are four badge tiers: Basic, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Besides just being fun collectibles, there’s a practical purpose to these badges: they will allow you to earn bonus items when you spin the gym’s Photo Disc. (This update also adds Photo Discs to the top of gyms, making them more like Poke Stops.)

This update seems to add in the Raid Battle system, but as Niantic has previously stated, this feature will not be available to the majority of players for a few weeks; Niantic previously said that it would be rolled out in phases, starting with a beta period lasting one or two weeks.

Here are the full patch notes of today’s update via Niantic:

Trainers,

Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.67.1 for Android and 1.37.1 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

Gym features significantly updated to add the all-new motivation system.
Added new Gym Badge feature.
Added in-app and push notification system for Gyms.
Added Raid Battles, a new cooperative gameplay experience.
Added four new items available only by completing Raid Battles.
Added Raids tab to Nearby screen.
Added search functionality to Pokémon collection screen.
Added visual indicator to unvisited PokéStops.

—The Pokémon GO team