'Pokémon GO' updates: Halloween event is live; more event details revealed

A player captures a ponyta Pokémon in Times Square, New York City.Reuters/Mark Kauzlarich

The first major event for "Pokémon GO," titled "Halloween Treats," is now live. This event runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, and it will focus on Halloween festivities by doubling the number of candies players receive when certain criteria have been met, and some spooky Pokémon, like Haunter or Ghastly, will spawn on the map more frequently.

The original list of spooky Pokémon that will begin appearing more frequently includes Zubat, Golbat, Ghastly, Haunter, Gengar, Drowzee, and Hypno. However, a report from Game Rant reveals that Cubone, Marowak, and Meowth have also been added to the list.

According to the report, some fans are disappointed since Pokémon like Zubat is already too common, but it is noted that the event does make it easier to catch some of the others on the list such as Meowth, Gengar, and Hypno. Gengar and Hypno, in particular, are more difficult to catch, given that they are the upper evolutions of some Pokemon.

During the event, candies will be given more abundantly. Players will get six candies instead of three when they catch a Pokémon, and Professor Willow will give two candies instead of one when the player transfers a Pokémon to him. The number of candies awarded when a player hatches an egg are also doubled.

Walking with the player's Buddy Pokémon has also been updated. The Halloween update changes the required distance to gain candies with the Buddy Pokemon have been cut by one-fourth. This means that if the player and Buddy Pokémon walk the normal distance they normally would they would get four times the rewards than usual.

Game Rant points out that this is just the first event and there are likely going to be more in the future, particularly with Christmas coming up in just a few more months. There is also the rumored daily quest system, although Niantic Labs has yet to further elaborate on this.