Since launching in the summer of 2016, Pokemon Go has had a lotof updates, with new features arriving constantly. There's also been the expansion of the game's Pokedex and special themed events for special times of the year such as Halloween, New Year, and the holidays.
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The game has also seen a lot of different loading screens, with trainers being greeted to many different loading screens since the game launched, with each depicting different scenes based on the time of year and current in-game events. Here are all of the Pokemon Go loading screens, in chronological order. Which ones do you remember?
The Original
Time Period: July 6 – October 26 2016
Pokemon Featured: Gyarados
Pokemon Go's first loading screen will be remembered so well mainly because you'll have likely spent a lot of time sitting on this screen in the games opening weeks. Niantic's servers spent a lot of time struggling to cope with the demand for the game, so this loading screen will have been a familiar sight if you played the game at the time.
It features the imposing Gyarados facing up to a trainer on a brick bridge.
Halloween 2016
Time Period: October 26 – December 12 2016
Pokemon Featured: Gengar
The first time Pokemon Go changed its loading screen was to celebrate its first event. The Halloween 2016 event was a taste of things to come, and this loading screen definitely gives off some spooky vibes, with a Gengar watching the male trainer ominously from the shadows.
Holiday 2016
Time Period: December 12 – 30 2016
Pokemon Featured: Festive Pikachu, Eevee, Snorlax, Clefairy & Squirtle
The Holiday 2016 screen was the first to include a female trainer, as well as multiple Pokemon. A PokeStop is donned with festive lights, which a Pikachu is helpfully powering up. This loading screen was updated a week after it launched. Changes included a new lights pattern, and the pink aura in the background of the original screen is removed.
New Years Eve 2016
Time Period: December 30 – April 7 2017
Pokemon Featured: Cleffa, Pichu, Igglybuff, Togepi & Elekid
The last loading screen of 2016 celebrated the New Year, with a bright fireworks display in the background. The foreground is where the really interesting things are though, with generation two's baby Pokemon being depicted watching the ongoing display.
This was the first time that Johto Pokemon was shown in the game and marked the beginning of introducing the second generation into Pokemon Go.
Spring 2017
Time Period: April 7 – June 21 2017
Pokemon Featured: Steelix
Johto Pokemon came to Pokemon Go in February of 2017, so the inclusion of Steelix in this loading screen is a celebration of that fact. It depicts the Iron Snake Pokemon bursting out of the ground and confronting a female trainer.
Raid Battles 2017
Time Period: June 21 – October 20 2017
Pokemon Featured: Pikachu, Tyranitar, Squirtle, Cyndaquil, Sneasel & Hoppip
The summer loading screen for 2017 reflected the introduction of Raid Battles and the changes made to the Gym system. It features four trainers fighting in a Pokemon stadium at night.
A Tyranitar Raid Boss is in a battle against Squirtle, Hoppip, Sneasel, Pikachu and Cyndaquil.
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Halloween 2017
Time Period: October 20 – November 2017
Pokemon Featured: Gengar, Dusclops, Banette, Murkrow, Sableye, Duskull, Shuppet, Zubat & Caterpie
The second Halloween event in Pokemon Go was celebrated in a similar vein to the first one. A brand new loading screen, depicting some of the new available Pokemon in the game was added.
It was the first screen to feature Hoenn-based Pokemon, with the Duskull and Shuppet lines featuring alongside Sableye. The male trainer is also seen wearing a Mimikyu hat.
Holiday 2017
Time Period: December 7 – January 1 2018
Pokemon Featured: Plusle, Minun, Spheal, Mudkip, Skitty, Delcatty, Ralts, Kirlia, Seedot, Beautifly, Shroomish & Wingull
Holiday 2017 brought another festive screen to Pokemon Go, with a majority of the Pokemon featured being from Hoenn. The top of the tree is adorned with a Star Piece, used in Pokemon Go to boost Stardust gains.
Seedots decorate the tree, and Wingull alongside Beautifly fly around the tree decorating it with red ribbons. The female trainer is wearing a winter-themed hat that was added to the game at the same time.
New Year 2018
Time Period: January 1 – March 28 2018
Pokemon Featured: Pikachu, Wurmple, Torchic, Treecko, Mudkip, Larvitar, Wynaut, Azurill, Slakoth, Milotic, Loudred, Furret, Bulbasaur, Cleffa, Pichu, Igglybuff & Togepi
2018s New Year loading screen was the most packed yet, featuring 17 different Pokemon across three generations. A party hat-wearing Wurmple was a particular highlight, finally being added to the game in the 2020 Hatchathon event.
There's also a callback to the 2017 version, with the Johto baby Pokemon featuring in a similar position to the one they had on that screen, watching the fireworks display. Loudred also features, seemingly in the role of the parties DJ.
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Research Tasks Addition
Time Period: March 28 – June 19 2018
Pokemon Featured: Pikachu, Mew, Arbok, Teddiursa, Butterfree & Weedle
One of the games biggest updates, the addition of Research Tasks saw a brand new loading screen, featuring Professor Willow, added to Pokemon Go. It depicts the Professor in a rather adventurous pose, with a Pikachu on his shoulder.
Keen-eyed trainers will be able to spot a certain mythical Pokemon near the tree on the right-hand side. Mew was added to Pokemon Go, marking the first Mythical Pokemon to become available to catch in the game.
Summer 2018
Time Period: June 19 – December 11 2018
Pokemon Featured: Ivysaur, Alolan Diglett, Alolan Dugtrio, Wailmer, Alolan Raichu, Wingull, Alolan Exeggutor & Bellossom
The summer of 2018 saw the introduction of Alolan forms to the game. Alolan Diglett, Raichu and Exeggutor all feature on this screen.
Alolan Raichu surfs in the ocean, with Alolan Exeggutor providing some shade for the less adventurous Pokemon. Wingull's fly in a cloudless sky.
Trainer Battles Addition
Time Period: December 11 – December 31 2018
Pokemon Featured: Electivire & Lucario
Trainer battles were finally added to Pokemon Go in December 2018, with fans having clamoured for the feature since the launch of the game. It's the only screen seen in December to not have a holiday theme.
Electivire and Lucario are depicted in an intense battle, with the two Pokemon fighting in a stadium at night lit up by floodlights.
New Year 2019
Time Period: December 31 – February 17 2019
Pokemon Featured: Electivire, Lucario, Pikachu, Eevee, Spoink, Grumpig & Swinub
Electivire and Lucario appear once again, this time watching the fireworks celebrating the New Year. This screen carries on the typical New Year theme seen previously, with a neat reference to the November 2018 release of Pokemon Let's Go Eevee and Let's Go Pikachu too.
Spring 2019
Time Period: February 17 – June 2019
Pokemon Featured: Smeargle, Mr. Mime, Luxio, Bibarel, Turtwig & Staraptor
This loading screen marked the introduction of multiple new updates to Pokemon Go. Go Snapshot was added, allowing trainers to take photos of their Pokemon in real environments using AR, and Smeargle debuted in the game too.
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Sinnoh Pokemon feature too, with a Staraptor flying in the sky in the background, alongside Luxio, Bibarel and Turtwig. The male trainer is taking a photo of the female trainer, with the photo being photobombed by Smeargle and Mr. Mime.
Summer 2019
Time Period: June – October 2019
Pokemon Featured: Azelf, Uxie, Mesprit, Finneon, Corsola, Mantyke, Psyduck, Sealeo, Gible & Wailmer
Summer 2019s loading screen was the first to feature legendary Pokemon, with the Sinnoh lake trio being depicted rather appropriately in a watery vista. The rest of the Pokemon included are all water types, maintaining the water theme this loading screen has.
One of Pokemon Go's regional exclusives, Corsola, is seen on a rock on the right-hand side.
Fall 2019
Time Period: October 2019
Pokemon Featured: (All Shadow Pokemon) Charizard, Houndoom, Mawile, Scizor, Meowth, Arcanine, Dragonair, Golbat, Absol & Tyranitar
Shadow Pokemon were added to Pokemon Go in mid-2019, and this loading screen depicts a range of different Shadow Pokemon available for players to catch. Giovanni, the leader of the evil Team Rocket stands in front of a Pokemon Gym.
He's joined by some Team GO Rocket Leaders, with a male trainer seemingly about to head into a duel with them. Charizard looms over the battlefield.
Holiday 2019
Time Period: November – March 2020
Pokemon Featured: Snorlax, Oshawott, Piplup, Psyduck, Eevee, Pikachu, Munchlax, Cubchoo, Beartic, Sudowoodo, Deerling & Sawsbuck
Holiday 2019 saw a return to the festive-themed loading screens, and it was also the first to include Unova Pokemon. Oshawott, Deerling, Sawsbuck and Beartic all appear in this snowy scene.
A group of Pokemon, including Snorlax and Psyduck, join a female trainer sledging down the hill. A pair of Piplup and Oshawott race ahead of the sledge.
New Year 2020
Time Period: January 2020
Pokemon Featured: Pikachu, Marill, Mightyena, Axew, Nidorina, Quilava, Sewaddle, Tyranitar, Scolipede & Gible
The first loading screen of 2020 was fairly simple, featuring a group of Pokemon, with a trainer, looking out into the Sun. Tyranitar, Axew and Gible are among the Pokemon included.
Spring 2020
Time Period: March – July 2020
Pokemon Featured: Seismitoad, Togetic, Cherrim, Scolipede, Joltik, Ralts, Venipede and Sudowoodo
Spring 2020 celebrated Pokemon Go's Spring event, which made spring Pokemon and Flower Crowns appear more commonly in the wild. Eggs were also reduced to 2kms and gave double candy during the event.
The screen features a Seismitoad hanging from a tree as a collection of Pokemon lay are seen on the ground below.
Summer 2020
Time Period: July – November 2020
Pokemon Featured: Latias, Latios, Slugma, Braviary, Quagsire, Wailmer, Whimsicott, Wigglytuff, Chansey, Cacnea, Crustle & Meganium
With the Play At Home initiative from Niantic fully in force, the Summer 2020 loading screen depicts a group of Pokemon and two trainers relaxing in their back garden.
Latias and Latios fly in the sky above, whilst Wailmer and Quagsire relax in the pool and a Team Rocket balloon can be spotted in the background.
This screen was used for most of the year.
