Pokémon Go gets feature to nominate locations for PokéStops

Niantic will add functionality to Pokémon Go that will give users the ability to nominate locations for PokéStops. First there will be a beta in Brazil and South Korea and initially only level 40 players will be able to nominate locations.

Niantic says the beta test will start soon, but does not specify a date. The developer talks about a PokéStop nomination system. Players must take a picture of a location, called a point of interest, which is then assessed and eventually included in the game. That assessment will be done by Ingress players, through the Operation Portal Recon project.

Initially, only level 40 players can nominate locations. Niantic may later make it possible for lower level players to submit locations as well. The current PokéStops in the game are already locations from Ingress. New locations in Ingress are also being translated to Pokémon Go.

Niantic has put a page online with details on nominating locations. There are several places and things to consider, such as public parks, libraries, places of worship, interesting works of art or architecture, and major stations.

Players in Brazil and South Korea who access the feature will receive functionality in the Pokémon Go app to point to a location and take a photo. In a blog, Niantic clarifies the choice for the two countries. According to the developer, there are relatively many players in relation to the number of PokéStops.

According to Niantic, the number of active Pokémon Go players has increased by 35 percent since May. In recent months, the developer organized various activities and added new features such as trading with friends. Since the introduction of the Friends feature, 113 million connections have been made, says Niantic.