Pokémon Go tests ability to trade remotely for the first time Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Pokémon Go tests ability to trade remotely for the first time Switch. News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Updated on 13 Nov 2020 10 comments For the first time, Pokémon Go currently lets you trade with other players remotely - albeit with some caveats. The feature is switched on from now until Monday, 16th November at 6pm UK time, as the latest in an ongoing series of limited-time tests. It is currently limited to other players near you in a 12km radius. Now, 12km may not sound a lot. But many players are friends with those in their local community, which this would cover, and it's certainly far enough to remain socially distant. The suggestion from developer Niantic is not that this will become a permanent fixture in the game, but one which it can switch on (and perhaps extend further) as part of future in-game events. Watch on YouTube Why not allow trades with players anywhere in the world? Niantic has to walk a fine line here between keeping its collection-focused game balanced and keeping certain creatures unique to some parts of the world, and to certain other in-game conditions. There are already illegitimate ways to gather these creatures without travelling there in person, and a complete removal of the distance barrier to trading would likely only encourage these further. One compromise often suggested by players is to remove the distance barrier for Lucky Friends, a condition you can only reach with another player after a long period of in-game friendship and interaction. Still, as the world continues to deal with the effects of the pandemic and the UK is once again in lockdown, this current test is a positive start. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 3 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 10 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 3 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store