Clarifications on Pokémon Go Power Spots [Discussion]

[NianticThibs]

Hello Explorers,

In response to the widespread interest in this subject, the Wayfarer and Pokémon Go teams came together with some response to your main questions.

Let’s first align on the terminology. In Pokémon Go, those new locations where you can experience Dynamax and Gigantamax are called Power Spots. They are different locations than Pokéstops and Gyms.

Where are Power Spots coming from? How are Power Spots chosen?

Similarly to Pokéstops and Gyms, Power Spots are built upon the Niantic Map.

Currently the locations where Power Spots can appear are a combination of unused wayspots and a recently imported new database.

• Unused wayspots: as many of you know, not all the wayspots available on our Niantic Map are used as pokéstops/gyms in Pokemon Go. Those unused wayspots have a chance to host a Power Spot.
• New database: To enhance the density of locations, particularly in areas previously devoid of them, we have recently incorporated a fresh database of locations. Note that those locations were imported while not necessarily abiding to our Wayfarer criterias.

Since Power Spots are transient, in a given area they will rotate between the available locations.

What are the eligibility criteria for Power Spots?
Why are some clearly ineligible locations according to Wayfarer criteria, appearing as Power Spots?

As mentioned in the previous question, we imported locations some of which did not align with our wayspot criterias. There is no eligibility criteria for Power Spots per se because we do not allow explorers to submit Power Spots, only Wayspots are submittable.

At the time of the import of the new database, we performed a vast filtering and removed a large amount of locations (mostly for safety and appropriateness) but our systems missed some of them, which some of you reported. We have since set up processes and remediation to prevent unwanted locations to show on the map. You can expect additional improvements in the coming months.

Can Power Spots be nominated?

Yes and no. When you submit a wayspot, it may or may not become a PokéStop or Gym. If it’s not chosen for either of those, it may be used as a Power Spot. Currently, there is no separate submission process specifically for Power Spots.

Can Power Spots be reviewed through Wayfarer?

Yes and no. Since Power Spots are partially based on wayspots, when reviewing a wayspot submission this location may become a Power Spot.

Can Power Spots be reported or edited?

You can use the report button on a Power Spot and you will soon be able to edit Power Spots including Title, Description and Location and Image submission (note that images are not planned to be displayed on Power Spots just yet).

Will Power Spots eventually become PokéStops or Wayspots?

For the Power Spots generated from our new database, not at the moment. But you can start seeing those new locations on the Niantic Map when submitting new wayspots and also while reviewing. We are also working on a major update of the map which will allow our games to better serve more diverse locations on our map.

Will the inclusion of ineligible Power Spots confuse players and lead to more bad nominations?

We recognize that certain Power Spots do not reflect the standard we expect our explorers to uphold when submitting wayspots to the map. Through the implementation of our Machine Learning safeguard (eMiLy), we are confident that lower quality submissions will be effectively filtered, ensuring that they do not appear on our map.

Why is it that the Power Spots I reported in the past, continue to exist on the gameboard?

Since the launch of Power Spots, the reports have been managed by a different team than the one managing Pokéstop/Gyms reports. Later this year, we will merge these processes to provide more frequent map updates (similar to Pokéstop/Gyms).

[DTrain2002]

Linking this here, since it’s where a large part of the discussion has been:

New waypoints being used for max raids

So with the announcement of the new feature, its apparently going to use brand new waypoints, rather than existing pokestops. Might see a wee influx of submissions, at the very least its gonna encoueage me to start submitting things that wouldnt have appeared in pogo and ingress if it is brand new waypoints. Mod edit: Many users are looking for ways to report these when they are not eligible. Please see post in this thread from cyndiepooh for a guide on how to do this.

[cyndiepooh]

One of the 2 SFPRP powerspots I reported the first day has never rotated out. the other also continues in rotation. The game will not allow me to file a second report. Can the homeowner use the Wayspot Removals form linked at the top here to get it removed?

[DTrain2002]

It appears that they just haven’t gotten to all, since it was a different team doing the Power Spot reports than stop/gyms reports. I think once the merge happens, it will be handled better and faster.

I, too, have reported some PRP, unsafe access, and permanently removed Power Spots, but they keep coming up from time to time.

[Im7heClown]

@NianticThibs

Will Power Spots eventually become PokéStops or Wayspots?

For the Power Spots generated from our new database, not at the moment. But you can start seeing those new locations on the Niantic Map when submitting new wayspots and also while reviewing.

Does this mean these locations are now to be considered duplicates when looking for things to submit or while reviewing? Im assuming yes? This could potentially have a negative effect in some areas where power spots are eating eligible wayspot locations adding to some areas PokéStop drought.

@NianticThibs

We are also working on a major update of the map which will allow our games to better serve more diverse locations on our map.

Im VERY interested in this part and what it could possibly mean, but ill try to keep my hopes to myself.

[DTrain2002]

You make a good point about the duplicates. Some stops/gyms have been covered on the map by Power Spots that are for the exact same POI. I’ve also seen some that are not at the same location, but for the same POI that have stops/gyms already.

[cyndiepooh]

That was not my question. I tried reporting, and nothing happened. Can the homeowner use the Wayspot Removal form to get Powerspots removed was the question. Without waiting for Niantic to get around to my report.

[ScrawnyMeowth1]

Thank you so much for this informative post. I’m glad someone has clarified a few things regarding these Power Spots. I have a few positive comments and one major concern:

But you can start seeing those new locations on the Niantic Map when submitting new wayspots and also while reviewing.

Does this mean that, when you’re reviewing a Wayspot nomination, you will be able to see all of these imported locations on the duplicate check map? Should a Wayspot submission be marked as a duplicate of an imported location if the imported location is for the same object? If this is the case, does that mean that a location is permanently ineligible to become a Wayspot and PokeStop just because it already exists as an imported Power Spot?

Edit: @Im7heClown explained this concern well in his post as well

you will soon be able to edit Power Spots including Title, Description and Location and Image submission (note that images are not planned to be displayed on Power Spots just yet).

I am very glad to hear this. I love adding photos to Wayspots.

Later this year, we will merge these processes to provide more frequent map updates (similar to Pokéstop/Gyms).

I am also very happy to see this. So far, Power Spot reports have been handled inconsistently or not at all.

[gazzas89]

Will the ones weve reported ever be removed? Literally 50% of the powerspots near me are ineligible for different reasons, of that 50%, at least 80% are on prp, 15% are not even close to where they are meant to be, im talking one being 5km out of place and the last 5% are mixed, woth one being k12 related

[Im7heClown]

Im hoping, and this is a pretty big hope, that maybe the wording is eluding to increased density in some way/form and in that same change hybrid power spots? So: power spot gets pushed through as pokestop from new database with this new map change that is coming. Since power spots shift, when its not a power spot its a pokestop. So they take over the location for a period of time. This could be beneficial?(even if we dont get the denisty part) But I also feel despite this being possible, its a bit of a reach. Cause I doubt we’d get increased density even if it would be nice for downtown areas. Just praying this doesnt have a negative effect…

[DTrain2002]

It doesn’t sound like they can right now, since the Power Spot team is still separate from the stops/gyms team, but may be possible in the future.

[DTrain2002]

It’s an interesting idea, but since Power Spots don’t seem to work on the S2 inclusion rule, this might not be the case. I would rather have the Power Spots removed from POIs that already have stops/gyms, or moved to a different location for the POI.

The 2 POwer Spots in my area that pop up at locations that already have stops/gyms are both in different locations. For the nearest, the gym is at the front entrance of the shop at the northeast corner, while the Power Spot shows up more in the niddle of the shop. Both are easily accessible if you are at the front of the shop or parking lot.

[DTrain2002]

Someone posted this in another thread, but the Power Spots will show ups as orange exclamation points on the map instead of the red ones for Wayspots. I checked this out myself, and I can see the 2 apartment buildings near me that get Power Spots from time to time marked in orange as well.

[hikaru588]

@NianticThibs

Will Power Spots eventually become PokéStops or Wayspots?

For the Power Spots generated from our new database, not at the moment. But you can start seeing those new locations on the Niantic Map when submitting new wayspots and also while reviewing. We are also working on a major update of the map which will allow our games to better serve more diverse locations on our map.

I wonder if this will help the overall situation around third party database imports blocking any future attempts of nominating said locations from Ingress. As currently the Ingress team have decided not to use any of the imported wayspots over the past couple of years, meaning that they can never become portals since any nomination of them will be marked as duplicate.

In terms of better serving diverse locations would this include game specific event locations. Since we had issues regarding the game map not reverting properly once the event ends or locations being accidentally deleted.

[cyndiepooh]

@hikaru588

third party database imports blocking any future attempts of nominating said locations from Ingress

great point! i am still salty about the courts of the world wayspots not being used in ingress, but the basketball courts are duplicates if submitted

[jaxomnc]

Concerning Location edit, we need to be able to report those similar to other Wayspots for location change > 10m. Around here, some of the Power Spot are off by several kilometers.

[Bluerosebell]

Would it be possible to currently focus on powerspots in osm tagged parks while the filtering is getting sorted?
I held a meetup at our local park on Halloween for Gigantamax Gengar. We had fireworks for city but it was too waterlogged to fire. No Gengar no fireworks.

[Bluerosebell]

Now that we know they have the ability, I’d love for them to import from city generated GIS maps of Public Art. That would solve the issue of malicious reports trying to get said poi deleted

[CrownFeather]

I have heard that appealing a nomination rejected by the community or Emily is rejected as a duplication of a power spot. They are happening especially with nominations for stores and institutions. Is this true?

[ThisNicola]

I’ve noticed some powerspots that are at potentially eligible locations for Wayfarer (sports clubs, etc). If I submit those and they go into the Wayfarer review process, are they at risk for being rejected as duplicates?

It seems like a shame for Lightship and all of the other products that it feeds into to miss out on a proper waypoint just because it’s already in this garbage database that y’all have chosen to dump into PoGO.