Pokémon GO players received welcome news this week as Niantic announced significant increases to both Pokémon storage and item bag capacities in preparation for this weekend’s GO Fest Global 2025 event. The update raises maximum Pokémon storage to 10,500 and item capacity to 9,500 – an increase of 700 slots for each.
The timing is strategic, as GO Fest Global 2025 runs June 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, offering players eight hours of intensive gameplay each day. With multiple rare Pokémon debuting globally, including Skiddo and the mythical Volcanion, plus increased shiny odds for ticket holders, player inventories are expected to fill quickly.
This storage expansion addresses a longstanding community concern. Many dedicated players have been operating near capacity limits for months, forcing difficult decisions about which Pokémon to keep or transfer. The 700-slot increase provides breathing room for collectors, particularly those planning to participate heavily in the festival.
Players can purchase storage upgrades through both the in-game shop and Pokémon GO web store. Each 50-slot upgrade costs 200 PokéCoins (approximately $2 USD), with bundle options sometimes offering better value. A full expansion from previous limits would cost approximately 2,800 PokéCoins.
For players unable or unwilling to purchase additional storage, experts recommend strategic inventory management before the event begins. This includes transferring duplicate Pokémon, sending extras to Pokémon HOME, and conducting trades to consolidate collections.
“You are never going to need 20+ shinies of one particular Pokémon,” notes one guide from the community. “It’s time to say goodbye to them.”
Costume Pokémon, which cannot evolve but take valuable storage space, are prime candidates for reduction. Similarly, shadow Pokémon can be purified before transfer to progress toward platinum badges while freeing space.
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The storage expansion comes as part of GO Fest’s broader feature set, which includes rotating habitat spawns, special raid bosses like Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta, and exclusive research tasks. While many features require the $14.99 event ticket, the storage increase benefits all players regardless of ticket status.
GO Fest Global represents Niantic’s flagship annual event, complementing the in-person festivals in Osaka, Jersey City, and Paris this year. The event’s “play anywhere” model ensures worldwide participation without travel requirements.
Storage management has become increasingly complex since the game’s 2016 launch, when the original limit was just 250 Pokémon. With over 800 species now available in-game, plus variants like shinies, costumes, and shadow forms, even the new 10,500 limit may prove challenging for completionists.
For players planning to maximize their GO Fest experience, storage expansion before the event begins is highly recommended – just be careful not to immediately fill that new space before the main event begins this weekend.