Niantic and McDonald’s have joined forces to bring Pokémon GO players new opportunities to explore, battle, and catch Pokémon. As part of this collaboration, all 13,500 McDonald’s locations across the United States are being transformed into PokéStops and Gyms, offering fans an exciting way to engage with the game in real-world settings.

During Scheduled Raid Weeks, trainers can visit these McDonald’s Gyms to participate in five-star raids and encounter Pokémon drawn by Lure Modules. The scheduled events are set to run daily from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time during several periods: December 16–22, 2024; January 20–26, 2025; February 10–16, 2025; and March 10–16, 2025.

While Niantic has long leveraged sponsored locations to enhance gameplay and generate revenue, the terms of this latest deal remain undisclosed. However, the collaboration seems poised to become a significant draw for both players and restaurant visitors.

Pokémon GO’s head of business development, Sarah Gilarsky, celebrated the partnership on LinkedIn, highlighting McDonald’s creative contributions, including a billboard over their Times Square location. "It’s been a pleasure working with the McDonald’s team, who prioritized brand fit, trainer experience, and guest enjoyment," she shared.

Additionally, Pokémon GO’s Community Day event, featuring increased spawns and bonuses for a highlighted Pokémon, will take place on December 21 and 22. With this collaboration, Niantic continues to expand the game’s real-world integration, giving fans even more reasons to explore their neighborhoods.