After initially struggling to release major updates on a consistent schedule in the early months following Pokémon Go’s launch, Niantic has recently found its stride.
The introduction of catch bonuses has made it easier to capture Pokémon, gym enhancements have simplified the training process, and a Halloween event encouraged thousands of players to reinstall the game. Now, the addition of daily bonuses might keep them coming back even longer.
However, there is still one update that fans are eagerly awaiting: the arrival of Generation 2 Pokémon. And it might be coming sooner than expected.
As soon as Pokémon Go v0.45.0 began rolling out over the weekend, the dedicated researchers at The Silph Road started analyzing the game’s code in search of new features or upcoming changes.
What they discovered was astonishing—100 new Pokémon had been added to the game’s metadata, including every creature from Pokémon Gold and Silver.
According to the community, the moves and moveset data for the Gen 2 Pokémon have yet to be integrated into the app. This means that before the new Pokémon can officially appear in the game, Niantic still needs to implement both server-side and client-side updates.
In other words, while we are unlikely to see new Pokémon appear within the next week or so, Niantic’s recent momentum—combined with the fast-approaching holiday season—suggests that Gen 2 Pokémon could arrive before the end of 2016.
Ditto’s Arrival May Be Imminent
Alongside the Gen 2 Pokémon data, data miners have also noticed the addition of the move “Transform” to the game.
This ability is Ditto’s signature move, and while Niantic has yet to reveal how it will function in Pokémon Go, its inclusion strongly suggests that Ditto may finally become available for capture in the near future.
