The Evolution of Pokémon Go's Mega Evolutions: Uncovering Leaked Documents

Pokémon Go has come a long way since introducing Mega Evolutions, and more recently, Gigantamax Pokémon. However, the game's Mega Evolution system wasn't always as we know it today. According to leaked documents from the Game Freak hack, Mega Energy, the resource governing Mega Evolutions, was once called something entirely different. This revelation sheds new light on the game's development process and the considerations behind the final product.

A Different Name for Mega Energy

In Pokémon Go, players collect Mega Energy to temporarily Mega Evolve their Pokémon, such as Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise. This system is unique to the mobile game, as the mainline Pokémon games only required specific Mega Stones for each Pokémon. Interestingly, the leaked documents suggest that Mega Stones were initially planned for Pokémon Go. A Redditor shared an image depicting early versions of the Mega Evolution system, which featured "Mega Stone Fragments" instead of Mega Energy.

How Mega Stone Fragments Worked

According to the documents, players could obtain Mega Stone Fragments by participating in Mega Raids against Mega Evolution Pokémon. The number of fragments earned depended on the raid's difficulty, with harder raids rewarding more fragments. For example, defeating a Mega Beedril would yield fewer fragments than taking down a Mega Tyranitar. Although this concept is similar to the current Mega Energy mechanic, there are some notable differences. The documents show that players could earn a maximum of 100 Mega Stone Fragments from the hardest raid, which is significantly less than the Mega Energy rewarded in current Mega Raids.

Why Mega Stone Fragments Were Scrapped

The name "Mega Stone Fragments" was likely a temporary placeholder, and its eventual change to Mega Energy is not surprising. The main Pokémon series does not have a fragment system, and incorporating one in Pokémon Go would have required justification for its absence in the main games. Renaming the mechanic was likely an easier solution for Niantic, Game Freak, and The Pokémon Company.

Other Interesting Leaks

The leaked documents also revealed a blue, Electric-type Charizard X, which has sparked curiosity among Pokémon Go players. However, it's likely that this was simply a placeholder asset, as the Mega Charizard asset was not ready at the time. This means that a blue Charizard is unlikely to be added to the game in the future. Additionally, other Mega Evolution leaks have shown that the final version of Mega Gengar is an improvement over the initial concept, and a proposed Mega Jynx was thankfully scrapped. These leaks offer a fascinating glimpse into the development process behind Pokémon Go's Mega Evolutions.