Trading and building friendships in Pokémon GO has always been a crucial part of the experience. Imagine looking for that elusive Pokémon and knowing that friends nearby can help you out. Now, with Niantic’s latest feature, trading has taken a giant leap forward. No more distance barriers! Whether your buddies live next door or thousands of miles away, you can connect and trade like never before.
This new feature introduces a higher level of friendship called “Forever Friends.” This evolution in trading makes it easier to exchange Pokémon with everyone you care about, regardless of where they are in the world. Let’s dive into everything this exciting update brings!
Forever Friends and Remote Trading Feature Now Live
Niantic has officially announced that the Forever Friends feature began rolling out on December 8, 2025, starting in New Zealand, with a global release planned soon.
Once you and a friend become Forever Friends, you will unlock a Remote Trade feature. This allows you to trade Pokémon without being in the same location—talk about a game changer! This is the highest friendship level in Pokémon GO, surpassing the Best Friends tier.
- As you interact with your Forever Friends, you earn friendship points. These can lead to even more rewards, XP, and additional Remote Trade opportunities.
- Keep in mind, each Forever Friend gives you access to only one Remote Trade.
A fresh friendship points system has also been set up. Now you can track your friendship growth with each Trainer. You can snag up to one friendship point daily per friend by battling, trading, sending Gifts, or completing weekly challenges together.
Similar to the sharing feature in the Pokémon TCG Pocket, you can mark the Pokémon you’d like to trade remotely. Both you and your friend can see each other’s tagged Pokémon, allowing you to select up to three for trade. Once sent, your pal gets to choose one to trade. Accept or decline? The choice is yours!
As a bonus, the maximum number of friends you can have is increasing from 450 to 650 over the coming weeks. Plus, there’s a free Timed Research event running from December 15 to December 29, 2025, offering additional rewards.
What is the Forever Friends feature in Pokémon GO?
The Forever Friends feature allows you to trade Pokémon with friends remotely, no matter where they are in the world, as long as you have achieved the highest friendship level.
How do I become Forever Friends with someone?
You become Forever Friends with another player by reaching the highest level of friendship in Pokémon GO through consistent engagement in battles, trades, and sending Gifts.
What are Remote Trades in Pokémon GO?
Remote Trades allow players to trade Pokémon from a distance, without needing to be in the same location as their trading partner. This feature is unlocked when players achieve the Forever Friends status.
Can I only trade once with my Forever Friend?
Yes, you can only conduct one Remote Trade per Forever Friend. However, you can earn more Remote Trades through friendship points.
What rewards do I get for trading with Forever Friends?
Engaging with Forever Friends earns you friendship points, which can lead to XP and additional rewards, enhancing your Pokémon GO experience further.
These new features in Pokémon GO are definitely stirring excitement in the community. How do you feel about these changes? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!