Pokémon GO Levels Up: Level Cap Jumps to 80 on October 15
Niantic is revamping Pokémon GO’s leveling system and raising the cap from 50 to 80, with an XP Celebration already live to help trainers prepare.
Here’s the TL;DR…
Level 80 arrives October 15, 2025. The leveling curve is rebalanced; Level-Up Research is removed for 41–50 and added for 71–80.
Perks & QoL: higher storage caps, new avatar items (from level 25), and boosted Lucky Friends chance at 70+. Some players will auto‑jump levels based on total XP—no one levels down.
XP Celebration runs now through Oct. 14. Bonuses include 2× Catch XP, +3,000 XP from raids and Max Battles, and Timed Research worth 7M+ XP.
The Announcement
Niantic announced on August 25 that a major progression overhaul lands October 15, 2025. The update aims to make leveling feel more frequent and rewarding while setting a new endgame target at Level 80.
What’s Changing
Rebalanced curve (1–80): Expect shorter gaps between dings across the board.
Research shifts: Tasks tied to Levels 41–50 are going away; a fresh set lands at 71–80.
Lucky Friends boost: Trainers Level 70+ gain an increased chance to become Lucky Friends.
New Rewards & Perks
Players get quality‑of‑life upgrades and cosmetics as they climb:
Storage increases (Pokémon, items, Gifts)
Avatar items start rolling in at Level 25
Legacy medal & cosmetics: A special medal marks your current level (1–50) before the change; Level 50 trainers keep their jacket and get a new pose.
Level jumps: Some trainers will automatically rise on October 15 based on total XP.
XP Celebration Event (Aug. 25–Oct. 14)
To bridge the gap, an XP Celebration runs from August 25 at 1:00 p.m. PDT to October 14 at 11:59 p.m. local time with stackable bonuses:
2× Catch XP for Nice/Great/Excellent throws
+3,000 XP from winning raids
+3,000 XP from winning Max Battles
Timed Research for trainers Level 5+ worth 7M+ XP
Adjusted Level 47 task: the 25 km weekly requirement drops from eight times to two
Why It Matters
This is the biggest cap jump in Pokémon GO’s history and a clear bid to re‑energize long‑time players while welcoming lapsed trainers back. With weeks of double‑dip XP and research leading into the patch, day‑one Level 80 pushes will be within reach for the game’s most dedicated grinders.
News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Steven Bubbles on August 25, 2025. Follow us on ClownfishTV.com for more gaming, pop culture and tech news, and consider subscribing for only $5 per month to get access to exclusive podcasts and other content.
Sources
Official Pokémon GO Blog — “Prepare for Pokémon GO’s new and rewarding leveling journey!” (Aug. 25, 2025)
Shacknews — “Pokémon GO level cap will go from 50 to 80 in October” (Aug. 25, 2025)
WorthPlaying — “Pokémon GO Will Rebalance Progression And Raise Level Cap In October Update” (Aug. 25, 2025)
TechRaptor — “Pokémon GO Level Cap to Increase to 80 in October” (Aug. 25, 2025)