Pokémon GO’s September GO Pass Introduces Timed Incubator
Niantic has officially unveiled the September 2025 GO Pass, launching on September 2 with a range of new rewards and challenges. The centerpiece of this month’s pass is the Timed Incubator, a unique version of the standard incubator that offers unlimited uses—but only for a limited duration.
The Timed Incubator will be usable until October 14, after which it expires regardless of when players acquire it. Any Pokémon egg that remains unhatched by the time of expiration will be transferred to a standard single-use incubator.
While the Timed Incubator gives players an unprecedented advantage in egg-hatching, it comes with a significant catch: it is locked behind the $7.99 GO Pass Deluxe and requires players to reach Rank 20. For many fans, this has raised concerns about paywalled access to one of the strongest items the game has seen.
GO Pass Rewards and Milestones
The GO Pass continues its battle pass-style format, rewarding players with items and bonuses as they climb ranks. Niantic is once again offering a GO Pass Deluxe + 10 Ranks variant, which instantly boosts player progress.
Free Track Rewards:
- Guaranteed Cobalion encounter with a Tales of Transformation-themed background
- Stardust
- XP
- Max Particles
- Poké Balls
- Candy
- Additional unannounced items
Paid Track (GO Pass Deluxe) Rewards:
- 1x Timed Incubator (Rank 20)
- 1x Super Incubator
- Extra Pokémon encounters
- Premium items (Premium Battle Passes, Incense, Incubators, Lure Modules, etc.)
- Candy XL
- More yet-to-be-confirmed rewards
Major Milestone Bonuses:
- Rank 25: Open up to 40 Gifts/day, receive up to 125 Gifts/day, hold 30 Gifts
- Rank 50: 2× Daily Adventure Incense duration
- Rank 75: 2× Stardust and XP from egg hatching
A Divisive New Addition
The Timed Incubator could prove to be a huge incentive for players who focus on walking and hatching eggs, but it also highlights the ongoing tension between fun gameplay and monetization. For many, Pokémon GO is becoming increasingly littered with microtransactions, with some of its most appealing features now placed behind paywalls.
Whether the Timed Incubator becomes a permanent addition will depend on player reception. If successful, Niantic may make this style of premium-exclusive item a recurring feature in future GO Passes.
