It's less often that we see legions of teenagers and even full-blown adults -- many of them experiencing the outside world for the first time -- excitedly approaching nondescript areas and stopping to summon invisible objects with their phones. Indeed, the Pokémon Go craze has died down since the app was first unveiled, though the "augmented reality game" is surely one of the most remarkable trends of 2016 -- with its capacity to make grown men walk off cliffs and drive into police cars.
In an effort to get people back into the game for the holiday season, the Pokémon Go team has now introduced new Pokémon characters for the first time. One also now has the opportunity to capture a new version of Pikachu, who festively dons a Santa hat. All of his powers are seemingly the same, though the new Pika Claus is too damn cute to leave out in the cold during his limited time in the world, which ends Dec. 29.
As of today, "trainers will have the opportunity to hatch these and several other Pokémon that were originally discovered in the Johto Region in Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver video games." These new Pokémon are the first of many new characters who will be revealed in the next few months. Have these new editions got anyone back in trainer mode?