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Pokémon Go has been infiltrated by three new Team Rocket leaders in its latest worldwide update, and introduces a new Special Research questline centred around the villainous gang (via Eurogamer).
Team Rocket is a presence in the augmented reality monster-hunting mobile game; they haunt PokéStops, stealing items and challenging players to a battle with their Shadow Pokémon. Now, victory against the Team Rocket grunts will award Mysterious Components. Collect six of these Mysterious Components to build the Rocket Radar and reveal the location of one of the three Team Rocket Leaders lurking close by.
The new Team Rocket Leaders act as foils to Candela, Spark, and Blanche. Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff will be hiding in plain sight once the Radar is complete, and will be found in the same location for all players, though they will vanish after 10.00pm and their hideout resets every day. If players find them and give them what for, they will have a chance to capture their Shadow Pokémon. Arlo has a Shadow Scizor, Sierra has a Shadow Houndoom, and Cliff has a Shadow Tyranitar. These Pokémon are tipped to have special qualities, too.
Once the rowdy Rocket Leaders have been bested, Professor Willow will bestow the Super Rocket Radar upon the player. This will show the location of Team Rocket’s headquarters, and by extension, where the head honcho Giovanni is. This is easier said than done because Team Rocket have been alerted to Team Valor, Mystic, and Instinct’s plans. Some Grunts will dress up as Giovanni to throw the player off the scent, but when players battle the man himself, they may be able to rescue the Legendary Shadow Pokémon in his possession. These appear to be Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
This is a huge update and comes hot on the heels of the Halloween event, the ticketed A Colossal Discovery event, and the arrival of Generation 5. With their powers combined, these in-game additions could boost its earnings by quite a ways, and could eclipse its staggering launch year revenue. And, Pokémon Go will get an online competitive battle league in 2020, and players will walk to prove their worth to enter the ring.
The Team Rocket update ‘Looming in the Shadows’ is live now. Watch the trailer below.
