Pokemon Go Changes to Remote Raids: Shadow Raids, Max Battles, and What This Means for Trainers in 2025

In a move that has surprised many in the Pokémon GO community, Niantic is implementing sweeping changes that significantly improve remote accessibility in the game. Starting this May, Shadow Raids and Max Battles will finally support Remote Raid Passes, marking a significant shift in how players engage with high-level raid content.

For years, Niantic has struggled to balance its vision of outdoor, in-person gameplay with the needs of a global, often isolated player base. With these recent updates, it seems the pendulum is swinging back toward inclusion and flexibility—especially for rural, disabled, or busy Trainers. Let’s explore the full scope of the Pokemon Go changes to Remote Raids and what it means for the future of the game.

🗓️ Timeline of Key Remote Raid Changes

Here’s a quick summary of the major changes coming this May:

Date	Update
May 13, 2025	Remote Shadow Raids go live; daily Remote Raid limit increased to 10
May 19, 2025	Remote Max Battles go live; Max Particle capacity raised to 1,500
May 24–25, 2025	Remote Raid limit temporarily increased to 20 for special events

These updates arrive just in time for two major events:

• Crown Clash: Taken Over – launching the first wave of remote Shadow Raids

• Gigantamax Machamp Max Battle Day – introducing remote access to Max Battles

☁️ Shadow Raids: Now Remote-Friendly

Shadow Raids have traditionally been among the most challenging and exclusive battle formats in Pokémon GO. Featuring powerful Shadow Pokémon like Shadow Mewtwo, these raids often require strong coordination and strategy.

✅ What’s Changing?

Starting May 13, 2025, Trainers can:

• Use Remote Raid Passes to join Shadow Raids

• Participate from anywhere in the world

• Count Shadow Raids toward their daily Remote Raid limit

This update comes as a major quality-of-life improvement for players who live far from raid-dense areas or who have difficulty gathering a large enough local group. It’s a significant win for inclusivity and gameplay accessibility.

💥 Max Battles: Now Open to Remote Access

Max Battles—added to Pokémon GO in late 2024—have been a contentious addition, often criticized for being too difficult and exclusive to urban players. These battles, especially against Gigantamax Pokémon, require high-level coordination and a significant number of participants.

✅ What’s Changing?

As of May 19, 2025:

• Trainers can join Max Battles remotely using Remote Raid Passes and Max Particles

• The Max Particle cap increases from 1,000 to 1,500

• In-person Max Battle participants will receive more Premier Balls and XP as an incentive

📝 Important Details:

• Remote Max Battles are permanent (not just event-based)

• Both local and remote Max Battle participation will remain balanced through different reward structures

This means rural and solo Trainers can finally experience Max Battle content without needing to travel or rely on external groups—while still rewarding those who attend in person.

🔁 Increased Remote Raid Limits

One of the most requested features by the community is finally here: a higher daily limit for Remote Raids.

From May 13, 2025:

• Daily Remote Raid limit increases from 5 to 10

• During special events (like May 24–25), the limit jumps to 20

This change allows players to participate in a wider range of raid types—from Shadow and Mega Raids to 1-5 star regular raids—all in the same day. It gives Trainers more freedom and choice when managing their gameplay time.

💸 Remote Raid Pass Bundles & Web Store Perks

To complement these changes, a new Remote Raid Pass bundle is now available via the Pokémon GO Web Store:

• Cost: $2.99

• Includes: 2 Remote Raid Passes

• Equivalent pricing tiers available in other regions

This pricing encourages players to stock up affordably and is a modest nod to the community's ongoing concern about rising monetization in the game.

🧠 Why This Matters for the Pokémon GO Community

For the past few years, Niantic has appeared resistant to the idea of expanding Remote Raids. In fact, in 2023, Remote Raid Passes:

• Increased in price

• Were capped at 5 raids per day

• Were framed as contrary to the spirit of Pokémon GO’s in-person interaction model

But now, Niantic is acknowledging that not all players can participate equally in localized events. Players in rural or remote areas, or those with disabilities, work obligations, or social anxiety, have long requested changes like these. And finally, they’ve been heard.

These new features don’t eliminate in-person raiding—they simply remove barriers for others. Everyone wins.

🌍 What Players Are Saying

Feedback on the changes has been largely positive:

“Finally. I don’t have much of a raid community in my area… now I can do Mega and Shadow Raids without limiting myself.”— Nightstream88, GameFAQs

“Shadow legendary battles were nearly impossible before. This change is a game-changer.”— Arcanine2009, GameFAQs

“It’s about time! We’ve needed remote Max Battles since day one.”— SmokeRulz, GameFAQs

However, some concerns remain about:

• Potential future price hikes on Remote Raid Passes

• Whether remote invitations will remain capped at 5 per host

• The fairness of giving in-person players better Premier Ball drop rates

Niantic appears committed to monitoring and balancing these dynamics going forward.

🔮 What Could Happen Next?

Based on current trends, here are potential future additions:

• Remote participation in Special Research Raids

• Seasonal boosts to Remote Raid rewards

• More accessibility features for rural and solo players

• Better integration with social features like Campfire and AR mapping

It’s clear that Pokemon Go changes to Remote Raids aren’t just a patch—they’re the beginning of a new era that blends remote flexibility with real-world engagement.

✅ Final Thoughts: A Step in the Right Direction

The decision to bring Remote Raid functionality to Shadow Raids and Max Battles is one of Niantic’s most player-positive changes in years. It strikes a long-awaited balance between their original vision of community play and the reality of a diverse, global player base.

For Trainers everywhere, these changes mean:

• More raid variety

• Greater flexibility

• Fewer barriers to powerful Pokémon

• And finally, respect for different play styles

Whether you're organizing a park meetup or battling from your couch, one thing is clear: 2025 is the year Pokémon GO becomes truly global—again.