Today, game developer Niantic announced that after years of waiting, Pokemon GO players will finally gain the ability to trade with each other. The new trading feature will work via a new friendship option for the game that seems to draw its influence from social media. Pokemon GO players will be able to add other gamers by entering their trainer code. Up to 200 friends can be added, and once accepted by a fellow gamer, trading possibilities open up. Niantic will also allow friends to send gifts and enter into raid battles together. Doing activities together with your friends will increase the friendship level.
Via Forbes, Niantic released a statement about the latest update that reads:
"For the first time ever, Trainers who are connected as friends in Pokémon GO and within close physical proximity to each other will soon be able to trade Pokémon. Trainers will earn the Candy of the Pokémon received in trading, and that bonus can increase if the Pokémon traded were caught in locations far apart from each other. The Friendship level between players trading Pokémon will provide unique bonuses including Stardust discounts. Higher Friendship levels between Trainers will unlock the Special Trades option, which includes the ability to trade certain Pokémon, such as regional Pokémon, Legendary Pokémon and Shiny Pokémon, and add new Pokémon to their Pokédexes. Trainers who require parental approval and registration through the Pokémon Trainer Club to play Pokemon GO will be unable to trade with other Trainers in the game."
