Gamers are all-too familiar about depleting their energy when ambling outdoors, trying to reach as many PokéStops as one can in Niantic's Pokémon GO app.
As a way to sort of rejuvenate players' verve while also trawling customers over to its stores, Starbucks is reportedly pairing with Niantic for a forthcoming Pokémon event that involves a custom Frappuccino for participating players.
Pokémon GO Starbucks Event
According to leaked images published by Reddit user alturrisi, the app will receive new creatures as part of an update rolling out Thursday, Dec. 8.
"The world of [Pokémon GO] is about to expand with new Pokemon," reads the employees' note.
Proper screenshots provided by Reddit user ArizonaIcedOutBoys has since been uploaded in the same thread at the Pokémon GO subreddit, giving a more detailed look at the promotional event.
A Special Pokémon GO Frappuccino
The note states that majority of company-owned Starbucks branches will be turned into a PokéStop or a gym. Players can unlock the special Pokémon GO Frappuccino Blended Crème beverage once they locate a participating store within the app.
Amusingly, the drink's ingredients include blackberries and raspberry syrup — a fun allusion to Pokémon GO's in-game Razz Berries, items which helps players catch rare Pokémon.
Second-Generation Pokémon Coming?
Previously, data miners were able to extract second-generation Johto Region Pokémon inside the app's files, and Starbuck's promotional event might stand as the proper way to commemorate their arrival. Dec. 8 is not too far from now, so players are about to find out whether these aforementioned creatures indeed pertain to the Johto Pokémon fans have known to love since mainline Pokémon entries Gold and Silver,
Those anticipating the eventual release of second-gen Pokémon on the app have opined in a number of forums that Niantic should execute the rollout via a promotional event, which by the look of things, is indeed the case.
Starbucks employees aren't supposed to disclose details of the promotional event before Dec. 8, so expect either the coffee chain, Niantic or both to properly announce it very soon. After what seemed to be blunder after blunder, Niantic has surely hit the right spots recently, having given players in-game bonuses this past Thanksgiving alongside having added Ditto to the roster of capturables. The course-correction comes as welcome inroads after the developers disappointingly disregarded what players needed, one of which being the tracker, a core feature in the game which is now slowly making a return.
Will you try out the Frappuccino designed exclusively for Pokémon GO? Are you excited for the imminent appearance of second-gen Pokémon in the app? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
