Imagine looking up in Times Square and seeing nearly every digital billboard taken over by Pokemon GO. That was the scene on July 9 as the Pokemon GO 10th anniversary celebration took over Times Square. Thousands of trainers joined creators, developers, and fans for the special event. The evening featured a livestream, Unity Raids, and the long-awaited arrival of Mega Mewtwo.
The celebration was about more than marking 10 years of Pokemon Go. It also gave players a glimpse of Scopely’s long-term plans for the game. With Pokemon GO Fest 2026: Global approaching, the event hinted that even bigger announcements could still be on the way.
The Pokemon GO 10th anniversary livestream began with a developer briefing before moving to Times Square. More than 70 content creators joined the live showcase alongside invited guests. During the presentation, Scopely executives Michael Steranka and Ed Wu reflected on the game’s journey. They spoke about its record-breaking launch in 2016 and how it grew into one of the world’s most successful location-based mobile games, reflecting the broader market growth seen across the live-service gaming industry.
The developers also shared three priorities for the future. They want to improve the social experience around gyms. The team also plans to create more memorable in-person events and make sure Pokemon GO remains enjoyable for players of all ages. This approach reflects a growing trend in gaming.
Instead of relying only on regular updates, many live-service games are changing their approach. They are creating more real-world events that bring players together. The evening’s biggest moment arrived when Unity Raid eggs appeared on two gyms in Times Square.
For players unfamiliar with the feature, Unity Raids are large-scale battles. Thousands of trainers work together to defeat the same powerful Pokemon. Think of it as a giant community boss battle. The experience closely recreates the famous Mewtwo battle from Pokemon GO’s original 2016 reveal trailer. This time, however, players were part of the action.
When Mega Mewtwo Times Square became a reality, both Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y appeared as featured raid bosses. At the same time, Pokemon GO visuals lit up the giant screens across Times Square. The raid itself followed the familiar gameplay that players already know. However, the scale of the production made it feel like a one-of-a-kind live experience.
The reveal was especially important because Mega Mewtwo has been one of the most requested additions by Trainers for years. That made its appearance one of the biggest highlights of the anniversary celebration.
The excitement wasn’t limited to New York. Earlier in the week, Mewtwo reportedly disappeared from its display at Pokemon Center Shibuya in Japan. Around the same time, Pokemon GO Japan suggested that the Legendary Pokemon had also vanished from PokeStops. Together, these clues sparked fresh speculation across the community.
Scopely has not confirmed whether these events are connected. Even so, the coordinated teasers hint that the story is bigger than a single anniversary event. They suggest Scopely is building a larger global storyline that could continue in the weeks ahead. That possibility has only increased excitement ahead of Pokemon GO Fest 2026.
Event Timeline:
- 4:00 PM ET: Press briefing begins in New York City.
- 6:15 PM ET: The official Pokemon GO 10th anniversary livestream starts.
- 6:56 PM ET: Unity Raids are officially confirmed.
- 8:10 PM ET: Unity Raid eggs appear in Times Square gyms.
- 8:37 PM ET: Mega Mewtwo Times Square becomes the headline attraction.
- 8:40 PM ET: The large-scale raid concludes as the crowd begins to disperse.
The anniversary also showed how live-service games continue to evolve. Instead of focusing only on new features, developers are creating shared experiences. These events encourage players to meet and play together in real locations.
Scopely also reflected on lessons learned from earlier live events, including the challenges of GO Fest 2017. Compared with those early years, the Times Square celebration ran smoothly. It showed how much the company has improved its large-scale live events over the past decade.
The Pokemon GO 10th anniversary celebrated the game’s history while looking toward its future. The event celebrated the game’s journey over the past 10 years. It also teased what could come next, reinforcing Pokemon GO’s position as one of mobile gaming’s most successful titles. If the goal was to build excitement ahead of Pokemon GO Fest 2026, the celebration accomplished exactly that.
Author’s Note:
Ten years after changing mobile gaming, Pokemon GO continues to bring digital adventures into the real world, one of many stories we’re tracking on NYPR News as the gaming industry keeps evolving. The Times Square celebration honored that legacy. At the same time, it offered meaningful hints about what could come next for the game.
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