Pokemon GO: Blaze New Trails Event Introduces a New Feature Called Routes Allowing Trainers To Add Custom Tracks

Routes is Pokemon Go’s latest feature that allows users to add new routes to discover on the map. Niantic announced the new feature with a trailer on July 20th as part of the Blaze New Trails event. Here’s all you need to know about the latest feature Routes, now added to Niantic’s popular AR-based game Pokemon Go.

The Blaze New Trails event was live on Pokemon Go from July 21st to July 24th, 8pm local time. It introduced Routes as Niantic’s new initiative that allows Pokemon Go players, better known as Trainers, to add custom tracks to the game’s interactive map. Niantic writes in its official announcement blog, that you can now “chart a course to show off your favorite sights, or follow in the footsteps of local Trainers to see what that community loves.”

Players can use this new feature to reportedly guide users to Pokemon spawn points, and more. They will have to choose a PokeStop or Gym as a starting point, and record the route that they use next, along with extra information to submit to Niantic for review. If selected, the custom track will be included in the game for other trainers to enjoy.

Additionally, these tracks are laden with Zygarde cells that comprise the Legendary Pokemon Zygarde, also known as the Order Pokemon. Zygarde is making its Pokemon Go debut in the Special Research story “From A to Zygarde.”

The Blaze New Trails event also brought event bonuses that let players earn Buddy Candy by completing 2/3 distance while exploring Routes with their Pokemon buddy. Chances to encounter Shiny Yungoos were also higher.

However, Blaze New Trails also brought its share of criticism from fans of Niantic, some of whom reported not seeing enough routes in their area. The distribution of routes is flawed in case there aren’t many PokeStops of gyms to be found in an area. These players are not able to enjoy the rewards that can be collected on these routes.

Since approval of the routes reportedly takes about a week’s time, and only a certain number can be submitted to the devs for review at a time, players in areas with fewer gyms or Pokestops are the ones facing the brunt of it the most. On the other hand, other players who got to experience the new routes said there weren’t enough incentive rewards to enjoy the new feature. Players have taken to Reddit to share their grievances about Routes with each other.