The items in Pokemon GO, such as berries, can be very useful when trying to catch a Pokemon. Other items such as Stardust can be used to Power Up a Pokemon, learn a new Charged Attack, or for Purifying a Shadow Pokemon. As most trainers know, the best way to farm these items is by completing Research Tasks or spinning PokeStops.
Pokemon GO having sponsorships isn't anything new. Sometimes, trainers could get exclusive accessories for their avatar by spinning a Sponsored PokeStop. Now, Pokemon GO has Sponsored Gifts. These are white/pink balloons that occasionally appear on the map. Interacting with them will net GO trainers free berries, Stardust, and more.
How Do You Enable Sponsored Gifts?
Sponsored Gifts won't appear on the map permissions are turned off. To enable Sponsored Gifts, permissions need to be enabled in Settings. Here's what to do:
- Tap the Poke Ball icon on the map.
- Select the Settings icon in the top-right corner.
- Select General.
- In the General page, look for Show sponsored messages from third-party advertising services before the Sharing section.
- Tap the icon next to "Show sponsored messages...".
When a Sponsored Gift/Balloon appears on the map, tapping it will preview the Sponsor, and players will be able to select "Open in AR Mode." Despite this, Niantic AR Mode in Settings does not need to be enabled, but it does need to have Camera Permissions. Players will then enter AR Mode and need to tap anywhere on the screen to "set down" the Sponsor Balloon.
After viewing the advertisement, items will appear on the screen in bubbles, much like they do when completing Research Tasks or opening Gifts. Usually, Sponsored Gifts contain berries (such as Pinap Berries), Potions, or Stardust. In the rare chance, players may receive a Golden Razz Berry or a Silver Pinap Berry, too. For a while, Sponsored Gifts even contained a free Poffin, which are treats that can be fed to a Buddy Pokemon.
How Often Do Sponsored Gifts Appear?
There's no correct way to tell when a Sponsored Gift will float down on the screen. As long as the setting is enabled, then they have a chance of appearing. Fortunately, Sponsored Gifts can appear at the same time as Rocket Balloons, so they can be picked up before battling Team GO Rocket.
Are Sponsored Gifts Worth Enabling?
Sponsored Gifts can contain rare, free items that are only obtainble through Special Research Tasks, Raids, or the in-game Shop. So for some players, the gifts are worth sitting through a 15-second ad. On the other hand, some Sponsored Gifts will open AR Mode and can't be exited out of until they're finished. Other times, players just don't like enabling access to a third-party. Therefore, the decision is up to each individual Pokemon GO player.
Pokemon GO is available for mobile devices.