Pokémon Go Fest 2021 hits in July with a music festival theme

Pokémon Go Fest will return this July as an online event, similar to the virtual Go Fest held in 2020 in response to the pandemic. Pokémon Go developer Niantic announced Thursday that the two-day virtual event will run take place July 17-18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time each day, and will feature a reduced ticket price of just $4.99.

Tickets for last year’s Pokémon Go Fest cost $14.99, and this year’s lowered price marks the fifth anniversary of Pokémon Go, which launched July 6, 2016.

Pokémon Go Fest 2021 will feature a music festival theme. In accordance with that theme, ticket buyers will have to choose between one of two ticket variations: one featuring Pikachu Rock Star or one featuring Pikachu Pop Star (Niantic says they’ll be tradable). Depending on which ticket players choose, Pikachu Rock Star or Pikachu Pop Star will appear in the wild, and players can fill out their Go Fest in-game “band” with Galarian Ponyta, Galarian Zigzagoon, Gardevoir, and Flygon also getting music-themed costumes to match Pikachu. Musically themed Pokémon, including Chimecho, Kricketot, and Audino, will also be appearing in the wild.

Pokémon Go’s in-game music will also change during Go Fest, based on players’ ticket choices. Pokémon music producer Junichi Masuda has produced new music for the event: “a rock-and-rolling track for Pikachu Rock Star fans, a high-energy electro-pop song for Pikachu Pop Star stans,” Niantic said.

Pokémon Go Fest 2021 will bring back last year’s hourly habitats. Each in-game habitat will feature the following Pokémon spawning more frequently in the wild:

• Jungle: Scyther, Aipom, and Froakie
• Desert Mountain: Skarmory, Shieldon, and Hippopotas
• Ocean Beach: Dratini, Swablu, and Alomomola
• Cave: Roggenrola, Galarian Stunfisk, and Deino

Go Fest ticket holders will also get access to region-specific Pokémon, including Chatot, Sawk, and Throh, during the event. Additionally, Shiny versions of Whismur, Chimecho, Audino, Tympole, Unown F, Sawk, and Throh will make their Pokémon Go debut. Galarian Ponyta and Galarian Zigzagoon wearing special costumes will be appearing in raids on Saturday.

The Sunday of Pokémon Go Fest 2021 will feature an increased emphasis on raids. While Niantic did not reveal which Pokémon will appear in raids on July 18, the developer teased that “some of your favorites will be returning for this epic celebration.” Niantic plans to encourage raids with extra XP and a flurry of Raid Passes. From Niantic:

• Earn an extra 10,000 XP in raid rewards when you complete a Raid Battle.
• Spin Gym Photo Discs to earn up to 10 Raid Passes. These can be used for in-person raids.
• Complete Timed Research to earn up to eight Remote Raid Passes. These can be used to join a raid from anywhere.
• Pick up a free event bundle containing three Remote Raid Passes! This will be available in the shop on Sunday, July 18, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

Niantic did not announce details on Go Fest 2021’s Mythical Pokémon. At previous events, Niantic has released Mythical Pokémon like Celebi, Jirachi, and Victini for ticket holders. Given this year’s musical theme, Meloetta, the Melody Pokémon from the Unova region (who has not yet been added to Pokémon Go), seems like a logical fit.

More details on Pokémon Go Fest 2021 are available at the game’s official website. Tickets for Go Fest 2021 are available now through the in-game shop.