Information has been released on two new events and how the highly anticipated remote trading feature will work in Pokémon GO. The required Forever Friend friendship level required to trade remotely is gradually being rolled out globally starting today.
Remote Trading requirements and restrictions announced
In a recent blog post, the GO team has outlined how Remote Trading will work:
Together, Trainers can now reach a new Friendship level…Forever Friends! This new, higher Friendship level (above Best Friends) offers rewards and XP along with two new perks.
- When you become Forever Friends with a fellow Trainer, you’ll get to make a Remote Trade with each other!
- You can keep engaging with your Forever Friends to earn friendship points. Earning more friendship points nets you rewards, including XP and additional Remote Trades. But take note, Trainers can only have one Remote Trade available with each Forever Friend, so consider making that trade before you get enough friendship points to earn another.
To get ready for your first Remote Trade, you’ll be asked to use a special Remote Trade tag to mark the Pokémon that you would be willing to trade with your Forever Friends. Once you become Forever Friends with someone, you’ll each be able to see the Pokémon that the other person has marked with the Remote Trade tag—these are the Pokémon that they are willing to trade.
To kick off a Remote Trade, each Trainer takes turns selecting up to three of their friend’s tagged Pokémon that they would be happy to receive. These “wish lists” are sent to the other Trainer. Each Trainer selects one of the requested Pokémon to offer to the other. Both Trainers then review the final offerings and have the chance to confirm or cancel. Throughout the Remote Trade process, either Trainer has the option to decline the current request and start the process over.
If you’re Lucky Friends, your next trade will be lucky—even if it’s remote!* And Remote Trades don’t count as Special Trades, regardless of which Pokémon were traded remotely.
The following Pokémon cannot be included in a Remote Trade:
- Pokémon caught in the last 30 days
- Previously traded Pokémon
- Shadow Pokémon
- Mythical Pokémon
- Pokémon defending Gyms or Power Spots
- Pokémon currently set as your buddy
- Actively Mega-Evolved Pokémon
- Fused Pokémon
- Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta
- Pokémon placed at Pokémon Playgrounds
What are Friendship Points?
Friendship points are the new way to track your friendship progression with other Trainers. Trainers can earn up to one friendship point per day with each friend by battling together, trading, sending Gifts, or completing other interactions.
Trainers can also earn additional friendship points by completing weekly challenges together.
Although the feature requires reaching a high friendship level with those you wish to trade with and some other caveats, it should be a handy system for exchanging Pokémon from players around the world or friends that don’t live nearby.
Winter Holiday Part 1 event details
From Thursday, December 18, at 10:00 a.m. until Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. local time, part one of Pokémon GO‘s Winter Holiday event will be active! It introduces costumed Sudowoodo and Charjabug, and the latter can even be evolved into costumed Vikavolt!
During the event, the following bonus will be active:
- Increased chance to hatch Shiny Pichu wearing a festive hat and Shiny Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon from 7 km Eggs
Players can unlock additional bonuses through the GO Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 but it is unclear if they will require the paid Deluxe track.
Wild Pokémon spawns
While the event is active, players may encounter the following Pokémon:
- Swinub*
- Snorunt*
- Spheal*
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire*
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire*
- …and more!
Pokémon Eggs
7 km Eggs obtained during the event may hatch into:
- Pichu wearing a festive hat*
- Smoochum*
- Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon*
- Cryogonal*
- Snom
Pokémon Raids
Three-Star Raids will feature the following Pokémon during the event:
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire*
- Hisuian Avalugg*
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire*
Winter avatar items
A holiday Sudowoodo sweater and Charjabug bag will be added to the in-game shop, while a Snom hat will be available to earn from the GO Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 Deluxe!
Celestial Research Day event details
The Celestial Research Day will take place on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, and players will have an increased chance of encountering Shiny Lunatone and Shiny Solrock from Field Research tasks picked up from PokéStops!
You can see normal and Shiny colors of Lunatone and Solrock above.
Let us know how you feel about the remote trading implementation and upcoming events! I’m happy we get to see a Bug-type Pokémon get some holiday love! Don’t forget to join our forums and Discord server if you’re looking for more Pokémon discussions.
