Have you ever been wandering around catching Pokémon in Pokémon Go and come across a mysterious yellow PokeStop? These brightly colored stops stand out from the usual blue ones dotted around the game map. When you see one it likely gives you pause, wondering what on earth is going on!

Well, wonder no more – this handy guide will explain everything you need to know about why some PokeStops turn yellow. We’ll cover what they mean, why they change color, how long it lasts, special events they are part of, and how to strategize when you spot one glimmering in the distance.

What Does a Yellow PokeStop Mean?

Let’s start at the beginning – what exactly do these yellow PokeStops signify when they pop up? Well, the main thing the bright yellow color signals is that another Pokémon Go player is actively using that particular PokeStop.

So it’s basically the game’s way of letting you know it’s currently occupied and to come back a bit later. Think of it like waiting your turn in line at the store. The yellow color is a visual cue that someone else got there right before you.

The yellow ring around the stop means you won’t be able to spin the photo disc center to collect your normal items like Pokéballs, potions, revives, eggs, and more. Those will have to wait until the other trainer finishes grabbing what they need.

This color change is temporary though, only lasting while the other player interacts with their phone at that spot. Once they close out of it, the PokeStop will shift back to blue again.

So in summary:

• Yellow PokeStop = another player is using it
• Can’t access items from that stop while yellow
• Color reverts when the player finishes

Pretty simple right? It’s just the game’s way of preventing multiple people from trying to tap on the same stop at the same time.

Why Do PokeStops Turn Yellow?

You might be wondering why PokeStops shift colors at all though, instead of just giving a message that it’s in use. Why make players pause and take note when they spot a vibrant yellow stop?

Well there’s a couple reasons for this:

• Fair Distribution: Having PokeStops turn yellow allows for more fair distribution of items. With visual cues, players know to wait their turn instead of clustered groups trying to tap at once. This maintains needed supply items for all users in the area.
• Polite Cue: The yellow color acts as a polite cue that another trainer is already there. This prompt allows players to exercise patience instead of getting annoyed that the stop isn’t working. It’s a friendly message to indicate “someone was here first, hang on a minute.”
• Efficiency: Changing stop colors also helps maximize gameplay efficiency. Players know not to waste time walking to and trying to tap on occupied stops. Instead they can focus efforts elsewhere until the stop is accessible again.

So in essence, consider yellow PokeStops as the game’s official signal to pause your stop-spinning efforts for a hot second out of courtesy!

How Long Do You Have to Wait at Yellow PokeStops?

A fair question when you come across an in-use yellow stop is “how long am I stuck here waiting?” Thankfully, you’re not looking at a crazy long line most times.

There’s no set duration that yellow PokeStops take to reset back to active status again. But from many players’ experience, it’s usually not longer than 30-60 seconds. Pretty quick!

The color change just lasts while the other gamer collects their dropped items, catches any attracted Pokémon, and closes out. Once they send that stop on its merry way, regular blue should reappear.

So if you see yellow, consider taking a breather, enjoying the scenery, and checking back in under a minute. Odds are good you won’t be stuck long before those helpful supply drops are available again!

Yellow PokeStops Signal Special Events

While yellow stops most often mean routine everyday use, they can also signify ongoing in-game events! Game-makers utilize the eye-catching color to indicate event stops. So yellow serves as an immediate cue to players that special activities are afoot.

During certain Pokémon Go events and storylines, yellow PokeStops increase wild spawns, supply different items, attract rare Pokémon, or unlock quest-based research tasks. It’s a great way for developers to direct your exploration and discovery to key points of interest.

Examples include:

• Increased spawns: Certain events feature yellow stops that spawned event-exclusive Pokémon frequently when tapped. Similar to how blue stops attract common monsters normally.
• Special items: Some storyline events had stops temporarily shift yellow to distribute special supplies. Like red, yellow, and blue shards players had to collect during the colorful Team Rocket takeover!
• New Pokémon: More recently, special golden yellow stops signify the monster Gimmighoul is lurking about during Paldean events! Activating one with a Golden Lure Module attracts this mysterious creature for a limited window.

So keep an eye out when yellow pops up—because exciting new encounters and exclusive goodies may coming your way! It’s a bright beacon guiding you toward animated adventures.

The Gimmighoul Connection

Let’s talk more about that special yellow PokeStop association with Gimmighoul. This unique Pokémon has an evolved mechanic requiring Gimmighoul Coins to trigger transformation. And yellow stops can help provide those!

Gimmighoul Coins are rare evolution-enabling items that sometimes drop when you spin golden stops. Using a Golden Lure Module increases odds. These precious coins then let you evolve a caught Gimmighoul into Gholdengo, counted in Pokédex numbers #999 and #1000!

So yellow stops represent rare opportunities during Paldean events to snag this limited evolution. Depending on the PokeStop location and items dropped, hanging around color-changed stops can seriously payoff for your collection!

Even if you don’t spot the elusive Gimmighoul, stockpiling some Coins for later provides serious bragging rights with these version exclusives. You may not see a golden stop for awhile, so pounce on those chances when spotted!

FAQ: Common Yellow Stop Questions

Still have some lingering questions around why weird color changes pop up suddenly? Check our yellow stop FAQs below for quick help:

What special items can you get at yellow stops?

During events: Event-exclusive items, evolution items like Gimmighoul Coins, special quest pieces

Normal gameplay: Same common items as blue stops once your turn comes around

Do all players see the stop as yellow, or only one person?

All players in the area will see that stop ringed in yellow when activated. It helps cue the entire crowd to pause spinning while in use.

Why don’t yellow stops show as occupied on the overall map view?

The color change only activates on close approach. This prevents cluttering the map constantly with temporary single-user visuals. Stops revert so quickly most times it’s not worth constant map overhaul.

Do I have to walk closer for my yellow stops to reset?

Nope! You can stay planted exactly where you are. The color will change back once the other player finishes collecting, regardless of proximity.

In Summary: Patience for Yellow Stops Pays Off

Hopefully this guide gave you all the details on yellow stop meaning and mechanics in Pokémon Go gameplay! To sum it up:

• Yellow rings indicate another player is actively using that PokeStop
• Change color temporarily while in use to cue waiting turn
• Stay attentive for special events signaled by yellow stops
• Gimmighoul and rare coins may lurk around golden stops!
• Never a long wait until accessible for you again

So don’t feel bummed when you spot a glimmering yellow stop in the distance. Just pause your approach, enjoy the suspense, and before long you’ll be back spinning for those key supply drops or rare discoveries! Respect for our fellow Pokémon trainers ensures fun gaming for all.

Key Takeaways:

• Used RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6800 XT offer tremendous value under $400
• New RTX 4060 and RX 7600 decent for latest features and architecture
• Intel Arc A770 stands out with 16GB VRAM
• Target smooth 1080p, playable 1440p gaming

When building or upgrading your gaming PC, picking the right graphics card can be tricky, especially if you’re on a budget. Getting the best bang for your buck is key to stretch those hard-earned dollars. I’ve built my fair share of rigs over the years, so let me walk you through some of the top options to consider in the $350-$400 price range as of 2024.

Used Cards Offer Excellent Value

If you don’t mind going the used route, you can score some serious horsepower for under 400 bucks. Nvidia’s RTX 3060 Ti and AMD’s Radeon RX 6800 regularly pop up on the secondhand market, sometimes even with warranty intact.

I managed to grab an EVGA RTX 3060 Ti off eBay for $380 recently. It had barely been used and worked like a charm. The 8GB of GDDR6 memory and beefy GPU encore provide killer 1080p performance and very playable 1440p frames too.

Scoring an RX 6800 for around $400 would be hitting the jackpot. This bad boy rivals the RTX 3070 with its 12GB VRAM buffer. Expect buttery smooth gaming, even in demanding titles. The best part is these used cards totally crush newer budget cards that cost more.

Just be sure to vet seller feedback and details carefully when buying used. But landing one of these gems will give your rig some serious muscle for less.

Latest Gen Cards – Middling Value

If you wanna rep team red or green with the latest RDNA 3 or Ada Lovelace graphics cards, the RX 7600 and RTX 4060 are around the $400 mark for brand new units.

AMD’s 7600 packs a respectable punch for 1080p gaming with its 8GB memory and revved up clock speeds from the new architecture. It’ll run laps around the previous gen 6600 XT. Plus it sips way less power – handy if you’re still rocking a 550W power supply.

Nvidia’s RTX 4060 may seem a bit light on VRAM at just 8GB, but features like DLSS 3.0, 5th gen Tensor and RT cores offset this. You’ll fly through 1080p and many 1440p titles thanks to frame generation and upscaling tech. The 4060 also brings AV1 encoding for streaming and efficiency gains from Ada Lovelace cores.

Ultimately though, these new-gen cards can’t quite match the absurd value that used flagships like the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6800 provide. But if buying new for the latest architectures and features, they’re certainly not bad options.

The 16GB Intel Arc Contender

Finally, Intel crashing the dedicated GPU party with their Arc graphics cards has made things interesting in this price bracket. The Arc A770 is a standout here, packing a whopping 16GB of GDDR6 memory. This trounces Nvidia and AMD cards with only 8GB buffers.

Having that huge frame buffer allows the A770 to punch above its weight class for high resolution gaming. We’re talking smooth 4K potential if you don’t mind tweaking some settings. The card also chews through creative workloads like video editing and 3D modeling.

Now Arc and its drivers are still kinda fresh off the press, so some more optimization wouldn’t hurt. But assuming the drivers mature nicely, scoring an A770 under $400 would make for a productivity and rendering beast thanks to Intel cramming it full of encoding hardware.

Ideal Resolution Targets

Given their specs and pricing, used flagship cards like the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6800 are best suited for flawless 1080p gaming and very playable 1440p. You’ll enjoy buttery smooth frame rates even in demanding titles with graphics maxed out. Makes me drool just thinking about it!

Newer budget cards like the 4060 and 7600 do admirably at 1080p, but can struggle a bit more driving higher 1440p resolutions in the latest games. Their 8GB buffers see them tapping out quicker compared to 12GB used flagships when textures and assets get dense.

Meanwhile the 16GB A770 has the VRAM muscle for solid 1440p and entry-level 4K provided the drivers and optimization is up to snuff. Fingers crossed Intel gets Arc to its full potential sooner than later!

Features to Keep in Mind

I’ll be upfront in saying raw performance for your dollar is paramount in this budget category. But that doesn’t mean features don’t matter! Having support for technologies like raytracing and upscaling helps boost visuals and FPS.

Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR 2.0 give your chosen card a nice performance kick in supported titles – handy when chasing higher resolutions. These machine-learning algorithms smooth out frame rates without the big resource hit of brute-force rendering.

Meanwhile, real-time raytracing creates more realistic and immersive lighting, shadows and reflections by simulating the physical behaviour of light. Performance takes a sizable hit though, so lean on upscaling tech to counter this.

Encoder hardware found in NVENC and AMD AMF is beneficial too for streaming your slick game sessions to adoring fans. Intel’s media engine in Arc has tonnes of hardware for encoding/decoding also.

And don’t gloss over the card’s size, noise or outputs either. You’ll want sufficient ports for your monitor setup, plus the card being a thicc boi could limit your case options. Research thoroughly if going pre-owned!

Avoid Old Gen Cards

It can be tempting to save a few more bucks by looking at previous generation cards like the GTX 1060 6GB or RX 590. But unless you find an absolute steal under $300, I suggest avoiding older gen cards these days.

Modern titles demand more graphical horsepower, and new architectures like Ampere and RDNA 2 leave old Pascal and GCN in the dust efficiency-wise. Plus you’ll miss out on the latest rendering, lighting and upscaling tech that really elevates gaming visuals. Simply put, today’s games favor today’s GPU architectures.

Wrapping Up

Whew, that ended up being way more info than planned! But when that upgrade itch strikes, arm yourself with knowledge before swiping the credit card. There are fantastic options under $400 in 2024 – you just need to weigh up new vs used, raw performance vs features, etc.

I’m hopeful this overview helps you narrow down what’s best for your particular rig and usage. Let me know which card you end up going with or if you have any other questions down below!

Happy gaming 🙂

FAQ

What is the best used graphics card for under $400?

The RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6800 (XT) offer tremendous performance for under $400 on the used market. When bought secondhand, these cards often outpace newer budget cards that cost more. Just be sure to vet details carefully when buying used.

Should I buy a new budget card like the RTX 4060 or RX 7600?

The 4060 and 7600 are good mainstream options if you want the latest architecture and features. Performance is solid for 1080p gaming, but can struggle at higher 1440p resolutions compared to used flagships. They also sip less power and tend to run quieter than previous gen cards.

Is Intel Arc worth considering in this budget range?

The Arc A770 is notable for packing 16GB of VRAM for under $400 which helps significantly with high resolution gaming. Performance is competitive with Nvidia and AMD too. Just keep in mind Arc drivers are still maturing so optimization has room for improvement.

What resolution should I target with a sub-$400 card?

Used flagship cards like the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6800 are great for smooth 1080p and very playable 1440p gaming. Newer budget cards excel at 1080p but can struggle to maintain high fps at 1440p in demanding titles. The 16GB A770 has potential for entry level 4K if drivers improve.

Should I consider older generation cards to save money?

Avoid older gen cards unless you find an exceptional discount under $300. Previous architectures like Pascal and GCN are much less efficient than today’s GPUs. Modern games also leverage new tech for better visuals that old cards lack, so best to stick to current or last gen.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is receiving a massive free next-gen update for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC bringing visual enhancements, quality of life improvements, new content, and more. Keep reading to learn all about the release date, new features, and what to expect from this next-gen upgrade.

Key Takeaways

• The Witcher 3 next-gen update will be released on December 14, 2022 for consoles and PC.
• Owners of the base game will get the next-gen update for free.
• Ray tracing, faster loading, new camera options, and visual upgrades are included.
• Brand new quests and armor inspired by The Witcher Netflix series will be added.
• Cross-progression support between platforms using cloud saves.

Release Date and Times

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt next-gen update will launch on December 14, 2022 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

The global release time is 7 PM EST on December 13 for PC and Xbox platforms, and 12 AM EST on December 14 for PlayStation. Check the table below to find the exact release time for your region and platform.

| City | Platform | Date | Time |
|-|-|-|-|
| New York | PC/Xbox | Dec 13 | 7 PM EST |
| PlayStation | Dec 14 | 12 AM EST |
| Los Angeles | PC/Xbox | Dec 13 | 4 PM PST |
| PlayStation | Dec 14 | 12 AM PST |
| London | PC/Xbox | Dec 14 | 12 AM GMT |
| PlayStation | Dec 14 | 12 AM GMT |
| Berlin | PC/Xbox | Dec 14 | 1 AM CET |
| PlayStation | Dec 14 | 12 AM CET |
| Tokyo | PC/Xbox | Dec 14 | 9 AM JST |
| PlayStation | Dec 14 | 12 AM JST |

How to Get the Update

The Witcher 3 next-gen update will be completely free for everyone who already owns the base game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC.

On the release date, simply launch the game on your platform or check for an update in the store to download the upgraded version.

For PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch owners, you’ll also get a patch with the new Netflix-inspired DLC items and some improvements, sans the major visual enhancements exclusive to current-gen hardware.

New Netflix DLC Content

CD Projekt Red has created brand new Witcher-themed content inspired by the Netflix TV series:

• A unique quest to obtain new equipment for Geralt.
• Alternative outfits for Dandelion and Nilfgaardian soldiers in the Netflix style.

We don’t know much about the new quest yet, but it likely involves hunting monsters and earning rewards themed after the show’s aesthetics.

This crossover DLC will also be available for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch owners via a patch.

Visual Improvements

The Witcher 3 is getting a significant graphical overhaul to take advantage of the power of PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and modern gaming PCs. Here are the major visual enhancements:

• Ray Tracing – Real-time ray traced shadows, reflections, and global illumination for ultra-realistic lighting.
• FSR 2.1 and DLSS 3 – Cutting edge upscaling tech for higher resolutions and frame rates.
• Improved Textures – Higher quality textures for characters, environments, weapons, and more.
• Enhanced Foliage – Denser, more realistic trees, grass, and vegetation.
• Better SSR – Improved quality of screen space reflections.
• Faster Loading – Optimizations for much faster loading times.

These upgrades will bring the visuals up to modern standards and let Geralt hunt monsters in stunning detail.

Gameplay Improvements

In addition to visual enhancements, CD Projekt Red has implemented some highly requested gameplay changes:

• New Camera Option – An alternative camera angle closer to Geralt’s shoulder for a different perspective. Can be toggled on or off.
• Quick Sign Casting – Allows instantly casting signs without first selecting them in the menu wheel.
• Map Filtering – Lets you toggle map icons on or off to reduce clutter.
• Hide Minimap – Option to completely hide the minimap for more immersion.
• Cloud Saves – Cross-progression using cloud saves between PC and consoles.
• Mod Integration – Some popular mods have been officially integrated into the game.

These are some great quality of life upgrades for modernizing the experience.

Complete List of Changes

Here’s a quick rundown of everything included in the Witcher 3 next-gen update:

• Ray tracing global illumination, shadows, and reflections
• Faster loading times
• FSR 2.1 and DLSS 3 support
• New shoulder camera option
• Quick sign casting
• Map filtering and hiding
• Cross-platform cloud saves
• Integrated mods
• Higher resolution textures
• Improved screen space reflections
• Enhanced foliage and environments
• Netflix quests and armor
• Numerous bug and quest fixes

FAQ

Does the upgrade cost money if I already own Witcher 3?

No, the next-gen update will be 100% free for all existing owners of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on any platform.

What if I own the game on PS4/Xbox One?

You’ll receive a patch adding the new Netflix DLC quest and armor, along with some other fixes and improvements. Only PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC will get the visual enhancements.

Will my saves transfer over?

Yes, you’ll be able to transfer PS4 and Xbox One saves to next-gen using cloud saves. PC saves will also work after updating to the new version.

How big is the download size?

The update download size is around 70-80 GB on consoles, and a similar range for PC depending on your language. It’s a beefy upgrade!

Does the Switch version get anything?

Unfortunately the Switch won’t be getting the major visual improvements due to hardware limitations, but it should receive the Netflix DLC quest via a patch.

Conclusion

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt next-gen update is shaping up to be one of the most impressive free upgrades ever released. Complete visual overhauls, new content, quality of life changes, and more make this a must-download for any Witcher fan.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to dive back into the rich world of monster hunting action RPG perfection, this is the perfect opportunity. The witcher awaits!