Pokémon GO is one of the most popular mobile games to date. Even with its lack of social features, it’s garnered 5 million downloads in less than a week. But it isn’t without its problems. Pokémon GO has already seen several server outages since launch due to the game’s surging popularity and at least one woman found herself in trouble while playing.
Already, there are countless articles detailing how Pokémon GO can be improved. That said, there is one aspect of the game that hasn’t gotten enough discussion: promo codes. Without them, you might actually need to spend money to play Pokémon Go the way it’s meant to be played . Here’s why that’s a big problem.
Where to get pokemon go promo code
Pokemon Go promo codes take the form of a special redemption code. You can typically find these redeemable promo codes by:
Checking social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook for posts from Pokémon GO and The Pokémon Company (which produces the game)
Follow Pokémon GO on Twitch to be notified when you can catch rare Pokemon, such as the adorable Pikachu on a surfboard, or Snorlax
Participating in online contests on social media
Attending special events at select locations throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. Take note of certain stories that appear on The Pokémon Company’s official blog (such as this one) for chances to receive promo codes that can be redeemed in game.
That’s not to say that code giveaways don’t happen in other regions. For example, Australia just kicked off its own set of special events and there are likely more to come all around the world. Here’s a list of upcoming Pokémon GO events in Japan . But you might be surprised how few opportunities there actually are to obtain these codes without actually playing the game.
How promo codes work on Pokemon Go
Once you’ve got one of these codes, make your way to the in-game store (tap the Poké Ball at the bottom center of the screen) and enter it. Typically, this will require taking a special code with a specific format (e.g., “3u5jk9d”) and adding it to an entry field under the Redeem a Code header. An example will look something like this:
If you successfully entered the code, you’ll receive what Pokémon GO credits as 100 Pokécoins and 500 Stardust. These items can be used to purchase in-game items such as Lure Modules (which attract Pokémon to a specific area for roughly 30 minutes) or Lucky Eggs (which double the experience points you earn for a half-hour).
The different types of promo codes available in Pokémon GO
Promo codes are typically assigned to three different types of items. They can be your run-of-the-mill digital goods, such as the 100 Pokécoins shown above. But promo codes have also been known to provide special in-game distributions, which typically include a number of items that would otherwise take significant time and effort to obtain. For example, the code “POKEMON20” provides players with 20 Ultra Balls, which are more effective at catching Pokémon than standard Pokéballs.
Finally, there are the special codes that provide one-of-a-kind items, such as the Pikachu on a surfboard mentioned earlier this week . These specific items don’t come up very often due to their nature, but they’re certainly worth redeeming when you do receive them.
Conclusion
The popularity of Pokémon GO can’t be denied. People are playing the game everywhere you look at this point. Could that success have been achieved without any need for promo codes? Sure, but they definitely help. While more opportunities to obtain these special redemption codes will likely arise as time goes on, many players will still need to purchase some in-game items with real money if they want to get the most out of their Pokémon GO experience. Take that as you will, but remember that there are alternatives on the table.