Pokémon Playground is an augmented reality (AR) feature that allows you to position Pokémon at specific PokéStops for Trainers to be able to take photos with those Pokémon, add their own to the photo, or both!
Pokémon can gather, play, interact, and meet other Trainers to take photos at special types of PokéStops. An icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the PokéStop details page if you are viewing a Pokémon Playground.
Please note that this feature is currently only available in select regions, but we look forward to expanding access to more Trainers soon!
What can I do at a Pokémon Playground?
If you are at a Pokémon Playground, tap the icon in the bottom right corner of the PokéStop details page to get started.
The first step is to take an AR scan of the PokéStop itself. Make sure you are positioning yourself so that your device’s camera is seeing a similar view of the location as is displayed in the PokéStop image.
If you are too far away or in the wrong location, you may see an error message.
Once you have scanned the PokéStop, you may see Pokémon start to appear one-by-one. Once all of the Pokemon appear, you can either take a photo of Pokémon that are gathered at the Landmark, add your own Pokémon, or both!
If no one has placed any Pokémon at the PokéStop, you can start by adding your own.
To place a Pokémon at the Pokémon Playground:
- Tap the Poké Ball icon in the bottom left corner of the camera screen.
- Select the Pokémon you want to place at the Landmark. You can add up to 3 Pokémon at a time to any Pokémon Playground.
Note that there is a maximum of 7 Pokémon that can be placed at any Pokémon Playground. If this limit is exceeded, Pokémon who have been at the PokéStop longest will return to their Trainer. - Tap the Pokémon you want to place and drag it into the perfect location for a photo.
- Once you’re satisfied with the Pokémon’s position at the Landmark, release your finger.
After you have placed your Pokémon at a Pokémon Playground, use your device’s camera to take photos of your Pokémon and its new friends! Learn more about taking AR photos in Pokémon GO. Please remember to be aware of your surroundings and to be courteous when taking photos if other people are in the background.
When you’re done with your photoshoot, tap the exit icon in the top left corner to return to the Map View. Note that your Pokémon will stay behind at the Pokémon Playground to take photos with other Trainers who might visit.
You can recall your Pokémon from a Pokémon Playground at any time by tapping the recall button on the Pokémon details page. Your Pokémon will automatically return to you after 48 hours.
Note that once a Pokémon is placed at a Landmark, they won’t be able to be used for Trainer or Team GO Rocket Battles, to challenge Raid Bosses or participate in Max Battles.
Reporting Issues with Landmarks
If you encounter an issue with a Landmark, please see this article for more details on how to report it to Niantic.