Pokémon GO Apologizes for Times Square Stunt with Free Mewtwo for Everyone

Back in July, Pokémon Go developer Scopely stirred up considerable backlash when it kicked off the game’s decade-long milestone celebration with an exclusive, invite-only gathering in New York City’s Times Square. This nostalgic stunt—a direct nod to the title’s iconic 2016 announcement trailer—awarded attendees a flawless Mewtwo boasting maximum stats and a unique celebratory backdrop. Reserved strictly for media, influencers, and prominent content creators, the promotion quickly sparked controversy as some recipients flipped their exclusive variants on secondary marketplaces for eye-watering sums ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Fortunately, Scopely is now stepping up to mend fences with the community by granting every player access to a guaranteed perfect Mewtwo featuring that coveted anniversary background.

Although the global Pokémon Go Fest held from July 11–12 allowed everyone an opportunity to encounter Mewtwo in raids, acquiring a specimen with flawless Individual Values—affectionately termed a “hundo”—remains exceptionally difficult. Grinding raids improves those odds, but doing so demands a substantial investment in additional raid passes. Under the new rollout, Trainers can bypass the RNG grind entirely by finishing a straightforward timed research task: simply capture 10 Pokémon and power up any Pokémon 10 times to unlock the prized hundo Mewtwo with its commemorative backdrop. Go Fest culminates in a Mega Finale on September 6, presenting further chances to secure specialized Mewtwo variants.

To sweeten the deal further, this rewarded Mewtwo arrives with its third Mega Level pre-unlocked, instantly transforming it into Mega Mewtwo Y—the formidable beast featured at the Manhattan launch event. Additionally, players will be handed a Master Ball, granting a foolproof, single-throw capture for any encounter of their choosing.

Scopely previously hinted that the Times Square-themed Mewtwo would eventually return to the rotation in future updates, likely integrated into subsequent Go Fest celebrations. Meanwhile, those fortunate enough to have attended the original New York City event will see their legacy Mewtwo adjusted with randomized stats.

Source: Polygon