The Pokémon GO Update Along the Routes with Mateo is packed with Gifts

The latest Pokémon GO news today is the arrival of the Along the Routes Season. Instead of spending the festive season in the warm, POGO players will be able to enjoy as many virtual gifts as possible as they explore the city around them, accompanied by their most loyal Pokémon. What's more, they won't be alone in their wanderings, as they'll be able to come across the new Mateo NPC and obtain exclusive rewards.

Unlock gifts from the Mateo NPC in the Pokémon GO Along the Routes Season

Mateo is an avid explorer who likes to collect souvenirs from his travels. To find Mateo in Pokémon GO, you'll need to reach the end of a Route. At the very end, you'll find him with his arms full of gifts collected along the way.

Collecting gifts with Mateo

You can bump into Mateo while out and about, but also by completing the Special Research scenario 'A Route to New Friendships'. To take part in the Pokémon GO Gift Exchange, follow the steps below, no more than once per day:

• Activate the conversation to talk with Mateo.

• The Gift Exchange begins, select the reward of your choice from the start of the Route, the end of the Route or a PokéStop.

• You can add a sticker or simply Exchange directly.

• Wait until you get a Postcard from another trainer for your Pokémon GO Album to complete.

Party Play and Group Routes

With a million routes created since July 2023, the Pokémon world has been well and truly criss-crossed. So, rather than playing the new Along the Routes season solo, I suggest you do it in a group! Join your trainer friends and complete the Routes together to share more rewards. There's nothing like team play.

What's new in the POGO Along the Routes update

Since 4 December 2023, players have been able to discover all the content of the new Pokémon GO Along the Routes season. Of course, if you're unfamiliar with the functionality of these player-to-player paths and tips on how to make sure you don't miss out on any of their rewards, check out our Pokémon GO Routes Guide first. You'll learn how to create, explore and loot them!

Overall, in this POGO On Routes update, you'll be able to:

• Explore ;

• Take part in Gift exchanges with other Trainers;

• Take advantage of Event Bonuses;

• Meet special Pokémon in Wild Encounters;

• Discover new features for the Routes functionality.

The luckiest Trainers will even have the opportunity to cross paths with a shiny Hisuian Sneasel Pokémon to add to their Pokédex. We take a closer look at the Encounters, Eggs and temporary event bonuses that you won't want to miss as 2023 draws to a close.

Wild Encounters Pokémon

All Wild Encounters Pokémon from the Along the Routes update marked with a ✨star can be unlocked as shiny. Of course, this will only happen to the luckiest trainers this season!

• Slugma ✨

• Hitmontop ✨

• Spoink ✨

• Feebas ✨

• Lillipup ✨

• Woobat ✨

• Emolga

• Wooloo

• Pawmi.

The Eggs

With the eggs specifically targeted by the update, you'll even be able to hatch a Shiny Hisuian Sneasel. For the others, the new eggs hatched from 7km onwards in addition to the normal Pokémon are:

• Hisuian Growlithe ✨

• Togepi ✨

• Sneasel ✨

• Hisuian Sneasel ✨

• Bonsly ✨

• Psytigri. ✨

Meetings of Field Research missions

During the Along the Routes season, Field Research tasks will allow you to encounter the following Pokémon:

• Eevee ✨

• Hisuian Sneasel ✨

• Wooloo.

Timed Research

Timed Research tasks give you the chance to acquire items and encounter the following Pokémon during your explorations:

• Hisuian Sneasel ✨

• Feebas ✨

• Wooloo

• Pawmi.

Event bonuses

• Eggs placed in an Incubator during the Pokémon GO Along the Routes season benefit from a halved hatching distance.

• PX x5 by spinning a PokéStop the first time and PX x3 for subsequent times.

• Star Dust x2 when opening Event Gifts.

Now you know everything you need to know to take full advantage of the Gift Exchange, the rewards and the many special encounters awaiting you in this new POGO season!