Latest ‘Pokemon GO’ News: Game In ‘Beta-Testing’ Phase, As Release Date Still Under Wraps

As 2015 drew to a close, "Pokemon" fans were hoping to receive "Pokemon GO" news updates that would finally reveal the game's release date.

However, followers of the popular gaming franchise have to content themselves with an Ingress report indicating that the highly-anticipated game is now in its closed beta-testing phase, according to Movie Pilot.

Gamers might be disappointed with this bit of news, but this is still a positive development nevertheless, as the entertainment site speculated that "Pokemon GO" will "exit beta-testing after the New Year."

Movie Pilot also debunked unconfirmed news that "Pokemon GO" might get a December release date, pointing out that Nintendo doesn't release a game "with absolutely no prior warning."

In its November 2015 issue, the Japanese anime magazine "Coro Coro" hinted that the game's developers might make a major announcement in December related to "Pokemon GO."

Unfortunately, "Coro Coro's" December issues didn't include the bombshell fans were expecting, but instead featured other titles Nintendo would be releasing in the following months. 

Movie Pilot noted that there has never been a gap of less than five months from the time the company announces a new title until it is finally rolled out.

Players could therefore be looking at a "Pokemon GO" release date that is possibly "months away and well into 2016," the online news portal said.

In the meantime, Gotta Be Mobile expects "Pokemon GO" to score big among fans, as the augmented reality game's developers are "changing the dynamic between the creatures and the real world."

Describing "Pokemon GO" as "blurring the line between feeling like you're a Pokémon Trainer in a game and being a Pokémon Trainer in real life," the tech portal cited some of the game's innovative features.

These include the ability of players to capture "Pokemon" in cities and towns around the world, in-app purchases which allow gamers to pick up items to grow their team, and the opportunity to duke it out with other "Pokemon GO" trainers in their area.

Although the release date of "Pokemon GO" remains a big question mark, gamers now have 101 reasons to look forward to its roll out.