They’ve shown a few people are worth more’: Pokémon Go players criticize exclusive hundo Mewtwo NYC event

Pokémon Go is celebrating its decade‑long legacy this month, and the hype has been steadily building all week.

On Thursday night, the celebrations took a bold turn when a limited‑time “surprise live event” unfolded in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, featuring a rare appearance by the legendary Mewtwo.

The gathering was a last‑minute revelation—no official announcement surfaced until the event itself—yet roughly 1,000 invited guests, including prominent content creators and community ambassadors, were already on hand. As the night drew to a close, participants united to battle and capture a Mega Mewtwo that was guaranteed to be a “hundo,” meaning it boasted perfect Individual Values, the pinnacle of stat potential in Pokémon Go.

From its inception, Pokémon Go has championed the idea of getting people outdoors and connecting through shared play. As the franchise marks its historic 10‑year milestone, the Times Square spectacle was just the beginning of a week‑long celebration that sought to rekindle that original vision.

However, the exclusive nature of the event has sparked a wave of backlash on official social media channels and forums, with many players voicing frustration that a reward of this magnitude should not have been gated behind an invitation‑only door.

A longtime Pokémon Go enthusiast voiced his frustration on X, noting that after a decade of support, the New York anniversary event was limited to a select few, undermining the communal spirit the celebration should embody.

Perfect‑IV Pokémon—those boasting the highest stat potential—are highly coveted in Pokémon Go, though their gameplay edge over lower‑IV counterparts is modest. Many community members felt that a cosmetic‑only reward, such as a unique background, would have been a more fitting tribute than guaranteeing a perfect‑IV catch.

The choice by Scopely to restrict the event to a handful of participants has sparked widespread frustration, as it appears to prioritize a privileged few over the broader player base. While the company may have aimed to drive weekend sales, the move has left many players disenchanted.

While Pokémon Go has long rewarded on‑site attendees with early Pokémon drops, exclusive Special Research quests, and unique cosmetic items, the promise of flawless‑IV Pokémon has remained elusive. At last month’s Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Chicago, participants were treated to a Mega Mewtwo paired with a one‑of‑a‑kind event backdrop, a cosmetic perk that did not guarantee perfect stats.

The 10th‑anniversary festivities resume this weekend with Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global, a worldwide gathering that will let players encounter a roster of featured Pokémon—including the legendary Mewtwo—through spontaneous wild spawns and intense raid battles. Trainers can also collaborate on Global Challenges, earning redemption codes via Pokémon Go’s social media channels for coveted rewards such as Poké Balls and Link Charges.