Pokemon Go Battle League lets you fight trainers from around the world - here's how it works

Pokémon GO is soon to receive a new feature fans have been asking for almost since the game's launch four years ago.

The Pokémon GO Battle League will finally allow players to fight other Pokémon trainers worldwide.

But what exactly is the Pokémon GO Battle League? How does it work? And will you need to pay to play it?

Here's everything you need to know:

What is the Battle League?

Put simply, Pokémon GO's Battle League is a semi-regular tournament with in-game rankings and rewards.

As part of the Battle League, you'll compete against other Pokémon trainers from around the world, and earning wins will help level up your rank, earning you Stardust, items and Pokémon encounters.

The higher your rank, the better your rewards will be, and one of the first confirmed prizes is Pikachu Libre, a wrestling-themed Pikachu seen in other games.

Will it be free?

(Image: Niantic)

Unfortunately, the Battle League won't be entirely free, and you will need to pay some real-world money to enjoy the feature to its fullest.

It will start out free, with players gifted five matches for no cost, but after that you'll have to earn further battles.

You'll be able to do that by walking 5km to earn five more matches, and you'll be able to do that up to three times a day.

But if walking 15km to play some more Pokémon GO doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you'll also be able to pay via PokéCoins to top up your 5km of walking.