Pokémon Go’s 10th Anniversary Celebration in Times Square Wows, Yet Fans Remain Upset

It’s Pokémon Go’s 10th anniversary, and you can’t just let such a monumental occasion pass by without a bang. The celebration kicked off with a lot of excitement, but not all fans are feeling the joy.

On Thursday, players in Japan noticed something strange. The Shibuya Pokémon Center, usually featuring a striking Mewtwo statue that nods to the legendary Pokémon’s lab origins, was missing its centerpiece.

Developer Scopely kept fans guessing about Mewtwo’s absence for hours. By Thursday night, the mystery was unveiled: Pokémon Go took over Times Square in New York City with a dazzling display, where Mewtwo made a dramatic return, challenging players to battle it. Those who participated had the chance to capture a “Hundo” Mewtwo, a Pokémon boasting perfect stats. This moment echoed the game’s 2016 announcement trailer, which famously showcased a crowd in Times Square battling a Mewtwo.

In Pokémon Go, finding a natural Hundo Pokémon is incredibly rare, making a legendary Hundo even more coveted. However, the Times Square event was invite-only, with only influencers, content creators, and press getting the chance to snag the exceptional Mewtwo. The rest of the community could only watch in envy. Fans who tuned in for at least 30 minutes received items like Poké Balls and Lucky Eggs, but these rewards felt underwhelming compared to what the attendees walked away with.

Regular players will have their shot at Mega Mewtwo X and Y starting July 11, coinciding with the global Pokémon Go Fest 2026. However, they won’t be guaranteed a perfect monster and will need to put in the effort to obtain it. Scopely is already encouraging fans to buy items like Raid Passes to maximize their experience during the event.

One of the most upvoted threads on the Pokémon Go subreddit criticized the event as “one of the most out of touch decisions in the history of this game.” The post argued that, while the Mewtwo event was exciting, it contradicted the spirit of what made Pokémon Go special back in 2016.

“Pokémon Go became a global phenomenon because of little moments experienced by millions of average players,” the post stated.

After the event wrapped up, Scopely expressed gratitude to players for their support over the years, but the response was met with frustration.

“A big middle finger to the rest of the world,” one comment on social media read.

“Those of us who have been here since the beginning should have received SOMETHING like this,” another user lamented.

Mewtwo has made appearances in Pokémon Go before, so the issue isn’t just about exclusivity. Some fans mentioned they’ve participated in countless raids for the legendary Pokémon but have never managed to catch a perfect Mewtwo.

“The Times Square influencer event was a bunch of bs and extremely tone deaf,” declared a top reply.

The introduction of this new monster type could influence weather patterns, legendary encounters, and more.