Pokemon Go Gyms Might Stay Closed till Next Month (Update)

UPDATE: Seems that Niantic is trying to make a liar out of me. Pokemon Go gyms are now open.

Original Story: Pokemon Go gyms are closed as Niantic works behind the scenes to deliver a new experience for players. While an update was released yesterday that added a lot of that functionality, the gyms are still shut down, offering a sad “under construction” message whenever a player taps them. While many hoped that the release of the new update meant that gyms would be opening soon, an email sent by The Pokemon Company hints that the wait might be longer than anticipated.

Sent out yesterday to subscribers of the Pokemon newsletter, the email discusses the new features being added to Pokemon Go. “Get ready for a revamped gym experience, cooperative fun with Raids, and more. Coming in early July,” reads the email.

This is the closest we’ve gotten to a hard date on when Pokemon Go gyms will reopen. It’s not clear if this is definitely the timeframe, as Niantic could have a slow rollout of the new features. Also, these emails have been a bit loose with Pokemon Go details before. Still, it does fit with a few assumptions.

This new gym and raid experience is a huge change for the game. It makes sense to tie it to a big event, which will likely hit alongside the first anniversary of the release of Pokemon Go. The game hit in early July, on either the 6th or 7th depending on some factors. Could gyms reopen on this day along with raids and possibly legendary Pokemon? It’s pretty likely.