Summary: Pokémon GO’s new Deluxe GO Pass includes a $20 Gold Bottle Cap, allowing Trainers to max IVs. Niantic insists it’s rare and requires effort to apply, not an instant boost. Community reaction is mixed: some see it as optional flair, others fear a pay-to-win shift.
Niantic’s $19.99 Deluxe GO Pass includes a Gold Bottle Cap to max Pokémon IVs. Developers say it won’t break balance—community opinions remain divided.
Pokémon GO Developer Responds to Pay‑to‑Win Concerns Over Gold Bottle Cap
Gold Bottle Cap Arrives in Deluxe GO Pass for $19.99
Niantic has launched the Deluxe GO Pass: Ancients Recovered, priced at $19.99, which for the first time includes a Gold Bottle Cap—an item that lets Trainers max out a Pokémon’s IVs to 100%.
Is It Pay‑to‑Win?
- Developer Michael Steranka explained that Bottle Caps will be rare, and players must still complete extensive in-game tasks to apply IV boosts—it's not an instant power-up.
- Critics say the $20 cost for even an opportunity at perfection adds a "pay-to-win" element—even with task-based limitations.
Community Split:
- Some Trainers feel it’s a trophy item—optional and not essential for most gameplay—but fear it may widen the gap for Master League players.
- Others argue it removes the extreme grind of hundreds of raids just to land a hundo IV Legendary—making perfection more accessible.
Looking Ahead
Steranka confirmed Niantic is carefully monitoring Bottle Cap frequency and in-game balance before committing to long-term rollout plans.
