A massive Mewtwo event in New York City’s Times Square drew a crowd of nearly 2,000 Pokémon Go players to celebrate the mobile game’s 10th anniversary. The Thursday night event turned one of the world’s busiest public spaces into a giant real-world Raid arena as players gathered to battle Mega Mewtwo Y. The event combined mobile gameplay with giant digital screens, a live performance and one of the biggest in-person raid battles in the game’s history.
Event Restores Pokémon Go’s Original Vision
The Times Square battle was more significant still in that it recreated the famous climax of Pokémon Go’s original promotional trailer. The first video showed a huge pack of players converging on Times Square while Mewtwo appeared on the big advertising screens in the area. Ten years later, the game’s developers turned that promotional concept into a real event, allowing players to step into a version of the scene that helped build excitement for the game in the first place.
Mega Mewtwo Y took the screens over
The anniversary celebration turned Times Square into a fully immersive Pokémon Go experience. More than 1,000 players participated in the synchronized raid at the same time, and Mega Mewtwo Y appeared on the digital screens at the location. Ahead of the main event, attendees were given a surprise performance from dance music duo Loud Luxury.
Players Watched Raid Evolution Happen In Real Time
The event culminated in a final Mewtwo encounter that players could build up to over time. Earlier in the evening, rotating Legendary Raids appeared, featuring a live music performance and the appearance of special raid eggs at Times Square Gyms. Devices around the space displayed countdown screens and large-scale Pokémon images as the main event began and spectators got ready for the battle. Once the Mewtwo raids concluded and the massive co-op experience finished, the crowd slowly dispersed.
Global Players Get Mega Mewtwo!
The Times Square event will also be held just before the worldwide release of Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. Through Super Mega Raid Battles, players can earn the necessary Mega Energy by defeating the different forms of Mewtwo. That means the Times Square event was a dramatic preview before the new battles had broader access to players around the world.
GO Fest 2026 Global Keeps the Fun Going
The event is now free for all players for the first time ever and includes Mewtwo, Zeraora, Special Research, extra bonuses, and more chances to encounter Shiny Pokémon. The Super Mega Raid Battles also feature Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y, bringing the excitement of the anniversary in New York City to the worldwide community of players.
