Pokemon GO Players Get Surprise Storage Increase

Pokemon GO has just handed players a bunch of free space in their item bags, with a surprise drop of level-up rewards that now automatically grant additional item storage. These new level-up rewards in Pokemon GO are retroactive, meaning players logging into the game since their implementation may have a lot more space to fill with potions, berries, and more.

An overabundance of items in Pokemon GO can be a real problem for players. Having a full item bag means players can’t spin PokeStops, which can interfere with Research Tasks, daily bonuses, and more. While an update in June increased the maximum Pokemon GO storage of items and Pokemon by 700 each, players have still had to pay for them, with each 50-slot upgrade costing 200 PokeCoins.

Pokemon GO’s Item Bags Just Got a Lot Bigger

Now, a new surprise update has just added up to 400 new item slots to each player’s inventory, and they won’t need to pay for it. As posted on Pokemon GO‘s official Twitter page, a new set of level-up rewards has been added to the game, giving players more free item space depending on what level they’ve achieved. Level 80 Pokemon GO players should instantly see an additional 400 new item slots in their bags, and while Scopely hasn’t laid out a detailed list, players at lower levels will still likely see a smaller immediate increase, with the opportunity to gain more free item space as they approach the current level cap.

Prior to an update that arrived on October 15, the maximum player level in Pokemon GO was 50. The addition of 30 levels in that October update also meant a shake-up that saw every player who had previously reached level 25 or higher instantly rise in level, but the change came with a seemingly unintended consequence. Since players receive numerous items as rewards every time they level up, many Pokemon GO players found themselves instantly out of item storage as they gained several levels all at once, just by logging in. Players reacted with mass frustration, as while the items were useful, their ability to play the game as normal was hindered due to an unexpectedly overflowing item bag.

A Pokemon GO screenshot with many PokeStops and two Gyms visible

The free storage space that has now been granted to players seems to be a direct response to these complaints, but for some players, it’s a fix that arrived too late. There are several comments on the Twitter post from players who are upset that they have already deleted many or all of the free items they were granted in October, out of a desire to be able to spin PokeStops. Others are hoping that Scopely will also increase Pokemon GO‘s Pokemon storage for free through an additional round of level-up rewards.