AR game-maker Niantic is refreshing its flagship Pokémon GO app with a slew of updates that tie into a broader “Rediscover GO” initiative.

Starting tomorrow (April 17), the game’s avatar-maker will feature more personalization and styling options. And new landscapes including forests, cities, beaches and mountains are rolling out on Earth Day (April 22), allowing the in-game visuals to adapt in a more “ecologically accurate way” to real-world locations. The app is also adding biomes that are designed to help players navigate and discover Pokémon from the Kanto region.

Finally, on May 7, a revamped GO Snapshot feature will roll out with an AR upgrade that allows players to include up to three Pokémon in the same frame when taking photos.

These moves are all part of Niantic’s strategy to generate more fan interest in the eight-year-old game, which saw its annual revenue drop from US$652 million in 2022 to US$566 million last year, according to data published by Statista. Notably, the game was most profitable during the pandemic years (2020 and 2021), when locked-down consumers embraced it as a safe outdoor gaming experience.

Last year, Niantic shifted focus to prioritize Pokémon GO growth and AR technology development after its newer games failed to deliver sufficient ROI. In June 2023, the company laid off 230 employees, halted production on a pair of third-party games, and closed its LA-based office.

The “Rediscover GO” campaign is also poised to build anticipation for this year’s traveling Pokémon GO Fest, which kicks off in Sendai, Japan in May before heading to Madrid in June and New York in July.