Pokémon Go fans torn over item which lets you change team colour Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Pokémon Go fans torn over item which lets you change team colour Instinction event. News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Updated on 18 Feb 2019 13 comments A Pokémon Go item designed to let you switch in-game teams has left fans torn. The "Team Medallion" item's in-game description suggests it will be available from the in-game shop - but only once every 365 days. Niantic has yet to officially announce the feature, but code related to it can already be found within the files of the game's latest update (discovered, as ever, by Chrales). Why does this matter so much? Well, Pokémon Go has three teams - Valor (Red), Mystic (Blue) and Instinct (Yellow). Worldwide, Valor and Mystic enjoy a noticeable dominance over Instinct. Pokémon Go's team system encourages you to play with teammates to control gyms, earn Pokémon Go's premium currency, and gain more chances at capturing raid bosses. Different areas will have slightly different team biases (here in Brighton, the city centre is often very red - but where I live can be annoyingly blue-dominated). But wherever you go, Instinct is usually seen as the underdog. The introduction of an item which lets you change team colour is an interesting thing. On the one hand, you're giving players who feel disadvantaged by their team choice an oppurtunity to pick one which is stronger in their local area. On the other hand, there's a real fear among fans this will lead to Instinct's player base falling further - making it even harder for remaining Yellows to earn PokéCoins through gym control than it is already. What's fascinating, though, is the discussion going on in places like r/SilphRoad where players are saying they will stick with their colour even if they're given the choice to change, and even though it might be the underdog in their area. I have a lot of friends who play Pokémon Go who will say their team choice defines their experience. It's who you want to raid with, who you'll work with to take down gyms. And yes, if you're an Instinct player, it's who you're fighting the good fight with as fellow underdogs together. The Team Medallion's one use per year limit is a smart move, and I can see the need for this to exist as players are asked to choose team colour so early in the game (at level five, when you're still very new to how everything works). Still, fans are torn over whether it is a good thing - and whether Yellow team will survive the incoming Instinction. 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. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 5 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 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. 61 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