Pokémon GO is extending Trainer Battle duration by 30 seconds

Pokémon GO is extending Trainer Battle duration by 30 seconds, which could make things a little more strategic in the long run.

Pokémon GO developers announced Trainer Battles will now last an extra 30 seconds. This additional interval gives trainers more time to think about their moves without worrying about a time crunch during the final turns.

Before, battles had a time limit of four minutes or 240 seconds. Now, the timer is getting extended to 270 seconds, although most players won’t need to worry about that.

Initial response to the change has been general confusion from the hardcore fans. Most of the time, a battle between two veteran trainers barely lasts two minutes. This change is likely a way for Niantic to try and give newer players a longer window to adjust in battles. It could also be their way of gently pushing hardcore fans to switch up the meta and start taking their time.

This extension could mean the development team is working on reworks to how some functions of the battle system operate. But that is a long-shot for fans who want a more traditional Pokémon experience in Pokémon GO. It could be a good sign for raid battles to receive an extension, though.

This timer extension went live in the next Pokémon GO update.