The term Rocket Balloon has been circulating Pokémon Go for a few weeks now. The concept of introducing these balloons into the popular mobile game first came about when players pointed to the brief appearance of a rocket balloon on the back of the Pokémon Go Fest 2020 promotional image. You can see it at the photo below, at the back left, behind several trees.
This information, and even the addition of Rocket Balloons, has by no means been confirmed by developer Niantic yet. Still, the dataminers on Pokeminers have worked hard to uncover a lot of information on how they can work if and when they come to Pokémon Go. Here's what we know so far - at least in a speculative way.
Image via NianticWhen will Rocket Balloons be released?
At the moment, we don't have a clear idea of when the balloons might be released. However, because the Rocket Balloon was seen on the back of a Pokémon Go Image from Fest 2020, we can assume that it lines up with these events. A Rocket Balloon could be released alongside Pokémon Go Weekend Fest 2020, which takes place July 25-26 virtually, rather than in a physical location. Alternatively, it could be released in the lead-up to the event, giving players a way to complete various challenges that will help them unlock more Pokémon to capture during the virtual event.
How do Rocket Balloons work?
Based on what the Pokeminers have been able to find out, it looks like there will be two versions of the Rocket Balloon. One will have the standard Rocket Grunt in them, and the other contains one of several Rocket Bosses. While these balloons are floating above you, if you're in range to interact with them, you should be able to fight a growl or a Rocket boss like they're fighting you from a traditional PokéStop. Hopefully Team Rocket has a different roster than the one they used earlier this year in March.
The Rocket Balloons themselves can have a starting point where they start at a PokéStop, float through the air, and then land at another nearby stop. The exact distance between the two Pokéstops remains unknown at this time. It would probably have to cover great distances to ensure that many trainers have access to it when moving around the map.
Does this bring back rocket research and Giovanni events?
It is unknown, but extremely questionable. Niantic has explicitly stated that he does not plan to complete any additional research tasks or Giovanni events until the end of September 2020. Although the addition of a Team Rocket balloon is great, and a step forward for helping people stuck in their homes due to the pandemic, it is unlikely to revive the monthly Team Rocket events. Of course, we could hear different details directly from Niantic.
Will rocket balloons be a permanent feature?
Potentially. It all depends on how and when Niantic plans to introduce the Rocket Balloon feature, if that's gaming. If Rocket Balloons becomes a thing in the weeks leading up to the Pokémon Go Fest 2020 event, they could continue to stick around. However, it is much more likely that rocket balloons will be introduced on the second day of the virtual event. He could focus on the mythical new Pokémon Niantic that is set to release that day.
For now, all of this information is speculative, so take it with a grain of salt. We'll update this article as we learn more information about how rocket balloons fit into Pokémon Go.
