Trading function coming to Pokemon GO

The idea of trading Pokemon has been deeply engraved in the success of the franchise for some time, whether it's trading cards or trading your Pokemon with friends on the video games – trading connects fans.

Pokemon GO is very different in comparison to games and years gone by, though. You have to travel to find the Pokemon you so desire, you have to physically move around from gym to gym just like Ash, Brock and Misty on the TV show. But, for all of its upsides, many gamers have noticed that there is no trading option as of yet.

Niantic CEO John Hanke has been talking to Business Insider UK about the potential features that could be included in the near future, and while a trading option has not been implemented so far, it seems like its arrival is very much on the cards.

When talking about the idea of introducing trade into Pokemon GO, he said: "It's kind of a core element." This suggests that not only will trading between players be a side feature for the game, but it could also be the focus of the app moving forward.

Confirmation of trading's arrival to Pokemon GO means that gamers will be able to swap Pokemon with eachother, or if you want to be one step ahead of the game, you could potentially start more than one account and trade with yourself.

Advice insert: Speaking of which, if you're already up and running with Pokemon GO you will have presumably picked one of the starter Pokemon, however with your new account – should you choose to make an extra one to trade with – you could follow these instructions and start with a Pikachu instead!

At the moment mobile gamers have been exploring some of the game's features and might have even confused Pokemon GO's 'transfer' function with trading, but it's actually very different – for more details on that, check out our guide here.

The Transfer button is at the bottom of the screen, when you have selected a Pokemon, and in the event that Pokemon GO introduces a trading feature, it is highly likely that the trading button will feature at the bottom of that menu also.

Hanke revealed that the current crop of gyms and PokeStops are the "very most basic versions," with gamers seemingly be able to "customize their functions in other ways" in due course.

Aside from that, the Niantic chief discussed some other new ideas that are on the table as well. If you would like to read more, check out the full interview write-up here.

[BusinessInsider]