In 2024,Pokemon GOgave fans a nostalgic treat with the “Rediscover Kanto” event, increasing the spawn rate of Generation 1 Pokemon in the wild. While the event was a fun temporary trip down memory lane,Pokemon GOplayers complained as the months stretched on, and it began to seem more and more like “Return to Kanto’s” spawn rate changes were here to stay. This continuing focus on Generation 1 Pokemon at the expense of all others represents a series-wide trend that continues to frustrate fans in both the main games and the mobile spinoff.
Rediscover Kanto’s Spawn Rate Changes Explained
In April 2024, the"Rediscover Kanto" eventwas announced inPokemon GO,coinciding with a larger update which introduced various quality of life features and gave in-game biomes a visual refresh. The event came with an increased spawn rate in the wild for a number of Generation 1 Pokemon, as well as an increased Shiny chance for original generation starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle and Kanto-themed Special Research.
While the event was advertised as being limited to April and May, players quickly found that the changed spawn rate was sticking around. Now, over six months after the event was originally announced,Pokemon GOplayers are still encountering more Kanto Pokemon in the wild compared to any other generation. This led tofans complaining and sharing memes about the event on sites like Reddit, expressing concern that the Kanto Pokemon would continue to overshadow newly added Pokemon from Galar and Paldea in 2025.
The Focus On Kanto Pokemon Is A Franchise-Wide Trend
True, manyPokemonfans experience nostalgia towards the Kanto games, especially those who first played them as children. However, the over-saturation of the first 150 Pokemon, even as the complete Pokedex now includes over one thousand entries, is frustrating to some, particularly those who find some of the Kanto designs like Rattata or Mankey to be boring or one-note. This was not helped when the Generation 1 Pokemon starred in yet another pair of games,Let’s Go PikachuandLet’s Go Eevee,or consistently received new trading cards and physical merchandise.
Regional Phenomena Often Focus On Kanto Pokemon
The predominance of Generation 1 Pokemon can be most clearly seen when it comes to regional phenomena introduced in later generation games. For example, Generation 6’s Mega Evolution and Generation 8’sGigantamaxboth included exclusive Mega or G-Maxed versions of Generation 1 Pokemon, while Generation 9’s Tera Raids were used to introduce many Generation 1 Pokemon into the game despite the Pokedex already having a heavy focus on Kanto.
This over-saturation is particularly noticeable when it comes to popular Pokemon likeCharizard. While the evolved form of Generation 1 starter Charmander is still popular, some fans feel it is excessive that Charizard got two Mega Evolutions, a Gigantamax form, and prominence in Generation 8 as the signature Pokemon of Champion Leon.
Pokemon GOhas a chance to rectify the issue going into the new year. TheDual Destiny seasonhas promised to focus on Pokemon from the Unova region, while new Galar and Paldea Pokemon have also been teased by developer Niantic.Pokemon Legends Z-A,which focuses on Kalos, is also scheduled for release in 2025, and a tie-in event inPokemon GOwould make a lot of sense. It is unknown whether the developers will choose to listen to fan concerns and update the wild Pokemon spawn rate once again to address the over-saturation of Kanto, but, even if this does not happen, they can put the spotlight on Pokemon from other generations to make 2025 a much less Kanto-heavy year than 2024.
