The Pokemon GO Gym update is here, allowing players to bag some worthwhile rewards for making use of the feature. Although most players agree that the overhaul makes Gyms a fun and fulfilling experience for them to spend time with, Pokemon GO developer Niantic isn't done updating the feature to make it even better.

In a new Pokemon GO update that landed this week, Niantic has made a small change that makes defending Gyms that bit easier. Following the release of update 1.39.0 for iOS and v0.69.0 for Android, players will be able to feed their defending Pokemon berries even when they aren't visiting the Gym. Previously, the game required players to actually visit the Gym where their Pokemon were stationed in order to feed them the berries, which proved stressful for those who may not be able to travel there each day.

This is a big win for players who simply don't have the time to make daily visits, but it does come with a major caveat. Feeding a Pokemon remotely is less effective than if players actually go to the Gym to give the defending Pokemon some berries. This could potentially provide clever players a chance to jump in and seize the Gym's control from others who haven't decided to go to the Gym in person.

Other changes introduced in this patch include the ability to feed their defending Pokemon berries even if their motivation is full and this will still grant them stardust. The statistics page of a defending Pokemon will now show players which Gym they are at, as well as how many Poke Coins they have earned.

This smaller Gym update arrives ahead of a big summer for the game, as events such as the ultimate Gym at Pokemon GO Fest and the Pokemon GO Safari Zones mean that more players than ever will be out and about, using the Gym feature. Moreover, legendary Pokemon are set to arrive in Pokemon GO soon and could also cause people to flock to Gyms too.

Niantic will want to make sure that its Gyms are in tip-top condition before its many players descend on the feature, and even seemingly small improvements can make a huge difference. The developer is expected to keep improving and tweaking the feature in the coming months so watch this space.

Pokemon GO is available on iOS and Android.