Pokémon GO celebrated its tenth anniversary with a really particular livestream. And we lined all of the bulletins and surprises on the spot.
The sport’s developer (previously Niantic, which was rebranded this week as Scopely Discover) has been extraordinarily secretive about what this livestream will function, however eagle-eyed followers have noticed a number of clues.
Over the previous few weeks and months, devoted followers have been discussing an invite to a mysterious New York occasion despatched to area people ambassadors. And this week, eye-catching tenth anniversary art work was unveiled that includes Mewtwo in areas like Instances Sq.. After all, that is the setting for the enormous Mewtwo battle within the recreation’s first official trailer launched ten years in the past…and it was a becoming location for at present’s celebration.
What did you assume would occur? Properly, one thing like a large Mewtwo battle in Instances Sq., maybe taking over quite a lot of screens in that location and displaying a large raid boss, actually felt like a superb match. Most attendees appeared to don’t know what was about to occur, together with a number of well-known streamers and hand-picked ambassadors who had been introduced to be attending.
Nevertheless, whereas the livestream ended up specializing in the occasion in Instances Sq., temporary hints about the way forward for Pokemon GO had been additionally seen reported. Learn beneath for extra data.
Mewtwo is defeated in Instances Sq.
Pokémon GO’s tenth anniversary celebration ended, not surprisingly, with the defeat of Mewtwo in New York. The occasion could have been gentle on bulletins concerning the way forward for gaming, however it actually confirmed that the present state of gaming can nonetheless have an effect. In direction of the subsequent 10 years.
Over 1,000 trainers battle Mega Mewtwo
Mewtwo could have damaged out in Instances Sq., however fortunately there have been over 1,000 gamers taking part within the large real-time battle. And in a pleasant (however predictable) twist, Mewtwo was in a position to mega-evolve into Mega Mewtwo Y to supply a good more durable problem. Gamers labored collectively to defeat the raid boss. Raid bosses flew throughout screens in Instances Sq., which additionally displayed members’ avatars and Pokémon.
Then, after Mega Mewtwo Y was captured by the Grasp Ball, the whole course of was repeated once more in order that the participant may seize a second Mewtwo. Gamers on the stream stated they caught the assured excellent IV “Hundo” model, which was an awesome reward.
📢🚨Mewtwo has arrived in Instances Sq.!
📍: New York Metropolis, USA #PokemonGO10 pic.twitter.com/6Juv4NMgaL
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) July 10, 2026
Instances Sq. lights out
Instances Sq. was plunged into darkness because the evening’s large occasion started… The long-lasting authentic trailer for the 2016 recreation is presently enjoying on screens in every single place. This was Pokémon Go taking up New York’s busiest areas.
This trailer previewed in-game options that took years to lastly deliver to fruition, together with buying and selling, fight, and raids. And now we had been nearing the top of that trailer. Mewtwo lastly seems in Instances Sq., combating a crowd of 1000’s of individuals ready for him.
Professor Willow’s Pikachu plush toy determined
A particular Pikachu stuffed animal sporting a Professor Willow costume has been confirmed and shall be obtainable for buy on the Pokémon Middle Retailer within the close to future. It’s also possible to catch Pikachu sporting this costume in-game throughout future occasions.
Pokémon GO pop-up opens in Time Sq.
As we speak’s livestream is being broadcast from a pop-up location in Instances Sq. and is being flooded with followers. In-game, spawns and raids appear to have modified over time that Pokémon GO has been dwell, beginning with raids comparable to Lugia in 2017 and ending with raids comparable to Groudon in 2018.
We nonetheless do not know when the massive Mewtwo raid we’re hoping for will occur.
👀
📍: New York Metropolis, USA #PokemonGO10 pic.twitter.com/cVOtg3fFlM
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) July 9, 2026
Now it is go time…
As we speak’s livestream began from New York’s Instances Sq..
After a short introduction from host Sidney Goodman and Pokemon YouTubers like Mystic7, landoralpha, and AwesomeAdam, the presenters ironed out some technical points whereas beginning to catch spawns at iconic areas.
For the reason that low season, there have been rumors {that a} Unity Raid shall be held at a later date. It is a new sort of in-person Raid expertise launched at this 12 months’s in-person Go Fests in Chicago, Copenhagen, and Tokyo. These occasions require attendees to carry their telephones within the air, and such maneuvers are prone to happen at such giant gatherings.
Three main content material areas for the subsequent 10 years
At a press convention forward of at present’s livestream attended by PokémonGoHub, the sport’s veteran workforce chief Michael Steranka briefly listed three key focuses for Half 2 of Pokémon Go: these are:
- neighborhood: The main focus is on gyms and the way they kind a part of neighborhood play.
- Core reminiscence: Centered on offering extra methods to play collectively and kind robust reminiscences
- Multi-generational play: We’re targeted on making Pokémon GO accessible to all generations
The precise particulars of how these three focuses shall be lined usually stay obscure, however the suggestion that Jim might be remade once more is actually fascinating.
Picture credit score: Scopely Discover; Raymonda Krikauskine/Getty Pictures
Tom Phillips is videogameaddicted’s information editor. You may contact Tom at tom_phillips@videogameaddicted.com or discover him on Bluesky. @tomphillipseg.bsky.social