Niantic had already unsubtly teased it, but the legendary Necrozma is officially on its way to Pokémon Go, along with a new fusion mechanic. While there’s still excitement among players for Necrozma’s inclusion, a quick glance at fan responses shows some people would rather Niantic prioritize reverting its avatar changes.
Niantic shared details on Necrozma via a May 13 Twitter post, and yet the very first response was a plea for the studio to “Revert the avatars.” Once you get past the first lot of reactions from blue check users, the replies turn into a barrage of similar demands requesting Niantic undo its big avatar update. Even after that initial wave of comments peters out, you can still catch other such replies in-between ones that are actually related to Necrozma’s inclusion.
Last month, Niantic rolled out an update to Pokémon Go players’ avatars, adding new and more detailed customisation options, such as adjustable body weights, eye colors, and skin tones. To call the update unpopular would be an understatement, with practically the entire player-base lambasting it for making their avatars “uglier.” This Reddit thread from April is chock full of harsh criticisms, with some calling it a late April Fools joke. Among the top comments are complaints of how pale avatars look, to the point where they’re described as “anemic,” as well as how everyone now sports a “baggy crotch.”
Not long after the update’s arrival, fan site Pokémon Go Hub claimed to have been contacted by a Niantic representative who said the company was accepting feedback and “taking this seriously.” However, they added Niantic didn’t promise it would make any further changes or revert the update, and the company doesn’t seem to have commented on the avatars since then. Until it does, I expect any future Pokémon Go content announcements will continue to be met with cries for a U-turn on the avatar customization.
As for what Niantic is actually talking about, Necrozma will initially only be available in five-star raids during in-person Pokémon Go Fest 2024 events, though there will be a global event later in the summer anyone can participate in regardless of location. Necrozma is an especially unique Pokémon since it can fuse with either Solgaleo or Lunala to take on one of two forms: Dusk Mane Necrozma and Dawn Wings Necrozma. To do this, you need a certain amount of Necrozma and Cosmog Candy as well as one of two new resources: 1,000 Solar Energy for fusing with Solgaleo or 1,000 Lunar Energy for fusing with Lunala. Both resources will become available by completing certain research tasks, or by defeating Dusk Mane Necrozma and Dawn Wings Necrozma in raid battles.
You can find a more detailed breakdown on Necrozma and its forms on the official Pokémon Go website, but it’s not the only new addition coming to the game either. Three more of the Ultra Beasts—Naganadel, Stakataka, and Blacephalon—will become available for capture during an Ultra Space Wonders event. Said event will run from May 23 to May 28, and you can read more about it on Niantic’s website.
