Pokémon Go’s Former Legendary Rewards Need to Return as Players All But Ignore Research Breakthrough These Days

Gamers have been facing several changes and updates in the dynamic world of Pokémon Go. Of late, debate has been going on over the current state of Pokémon Go rewards, especially for the weekly Research Breakthroughs.

It was only a recent post showcasing a less-than-stellar prize of a mediocre Growlithe and 20 Poké Balls that got a novel discussion in the first place. Now comes the question: Should Niantic bring back the legendary reward in order to bring renewed interest to the game once more?

The Nostalgia of Legendary Rewards in Pokémon

Nostalgic Pokémon Go players would recall how, some time ago, completing a week’s worth of research tasks would yield an encounter to catch a legendary Pokémon. 

BRUH… literally wasted week of research.
byu/lujoter4 inpokemongo

In the past, by completing their research breakthrough, players could encounter legendary Pokémon like Moltres, Zapdos, Articuno, Groudon, and Kyogre. These weren’t just rewards but milestones that gave a real substantial boost in motivation to play daily.

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inpokemongo

These rewards were particularly exciting for rural players who might not have access to raid groups and for those who were still trying to complete their Pokédex. 

The new bonus system has brought some relief to the Pokémon Go players.

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inpokemongo

Many players remember the excitement of catching shiny Lugia and other legendary Pokémon by means of such discoveries—layers of excitement and anticipation to which the current rewards do not hold a candle.

This turn away from such high-value rewards will at least partially give them, among the community, a clearly perceivable sense of loss.

Current Emotional State: Apathy

The change from legendary rewards to less exciting ones did not go unnoticed. One Pokémon Go player returned from almost a decade-long hiatus to find some amazing Pokémon in their account.

Nowadays, more common Pokémon, like Hisuian Growlithe, Larvitar, and Audino, are research breakthroughs. This has caused a clear decline in engagement from the player base. 

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inpokemongo

Many players reported an ever-growing apathy to where they do not make it a point to complete research tasks anymore. Instead, they would view the breakthroughs as incidental and not goals to strive for.

Moreover, the effort Niantic has taken to add bonuses to these encounters, such as extra Stardust or candies, has not sufficed to regain the magic initially bound to legendary rewards. 

Getting the same Pokémon for several weeks removes most of the incentive to log in and complete the tasks since now it is getting predictable and frustrating rather than exciting with a chance of discovery and reward.

At last, research breakthroughs need to be rectified to restore the feeling of accomplishment and excitement that seems to dwindle over time. As the game ages, listening to and implementing the feedback of the community will be critical to its long-term appeal and to ensure that it will hold the same interest as when it was launched.

What do you think of the Research Breakthrough rewards in Pokémon Go? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.