'Pokémon GO' news: more spooky Pokémon encounters with new Halloween update

A man uses a mobile phone in front of an advertisement board bearing the image of "Pokémon GO. Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

"Pokémon GO" has already joined in the Halloween festivities. Gamers can expect more ghostly pocket creatures as well as twice the normal candy they can collect.

Developer Niantic announced a few days ago about the Halloween event that is about to go down, and it runs from Oct. 26 until Nov. 1. Players will also get twice the amount of candy every time they "catch, hatch and transfer Pokémon." As an added bonus, players who bring in their Buddy Pokémon will earn them as much as four times the Candy at a time.

However, the studio warned the gamers, "If you encounter more spooky Pokémon than normal, don't be startled, they want to enjoy the fun too! Scare up some friends, grab your buddy and enjoy this spooky, fun celebration with us!"

Forbes added that spawn rates for Drowzee, Gengar, Ghastly, Golbat, Haunter, Hypno, and Zubat have increased for the period. On the candy side, a total of eight candies can be achieved from a single Pokémon, six from catching one and two for transferring to the professor.

Meanwhile, since the hunt has started, players have reported that Cubone, Marowak, and Meowth are also spawning more often in the game. This is aside from the seven pocket monsters announced to be showing up more frequently in the game. The additional Pokémon have been observed to spawn from seven to ten times more. The use of lures and incense will also attract more of the Halloween Pokémon, according to BGR.

The studio also changed the loading screen of the game appropriate for the festivities. The loading screen contains a warning that says, "Remember to be alert at all times. Stay aware of your surroundings."

In other news, experts on the matter agree that Niantic has done a great job in offering such an event. There are reports that people have started to get back into the action of catching these Pokémon during the event, which has significantly gone down in the last few months. The Pokémon App from the Google Play Store is actually right back on the top of the list, which means that the strategy applied by the studio is working perfectly well.

News
How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better
How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better

In 2008, Wilson Femayi was wrongly convicted and sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He had just graduated from Bible college. His arrest — the result of a personal vendetta — was a devastating moment. But even in that dark place, God was at work. Today, Wilson is the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe, leading programmes that are restoring prisoners and reuniting families across the country.

Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds
Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds

A new report from International Christian Concern (ICC) has revealed a disturbing rise in violence against Christians across parts of Africa, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya experiencing a surge in attacks, abductions, massacres and forced displacements.

Peace in turbulent times: 12 Bible verses to anchor your soul
Peace in turbulent times: 12 Bible verses to anchor your soul

It's easy to feel overwhelmed, helpless, or even afraid when the world seems to spin out of control. But as believers in Christ, we are not left to face these storms alone.

Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab
Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab

A new policy brief released by Open Doors has exposed as a systematic campaign of repression against Christian communities in Nicaragua.