Pokémon Go Hands Every Player a Perfect Mewtwo After Times Square Backlash
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Scopely is giving all Pokémon Go players a free, perfect stats Mewtwo with an exclusive anniversary background to make up for a controversial influencer-only event in Times Square.
Developer Scopely is handing out a free, perfect stats Mewtwo with a special anniversary background to all Pokémon Go players. The move comes as a direct apology after an exclusive invite-only event in New York City's Times Square sparked heavy community backlash last month. That initial stunt, meant to celebrate the game's tenth anniversary by mimicking the famous 2016 launch trailer, restricted the rare encounter to select influencers and press. Things quickly escalated when attendees started flipping the exclusive variants on eBay for prices ranging from five hundred to five thousand dollars, leaving the broader player base completely sidelined.
To claim the makeup reward, trainers simply need to complete a straightforward timed research task that involves catching ten Pokémon and powering up a Pokémon ten times. Scopely is sweetening the deal by unlocking the third Mega Level right out of the box, turning the reward into Mega Mewtwo Y, alongside a bonus Master Ball. Meanwhile, players who attended the original live event will receive a separate Mewtwo with randomized stats to preserve some exclusivity without penalizing the community at large.
This course correction highlights the growing friction developers face when trying to stage high-profile creator activations without alienating their everyday player base. In modern live service games, digital scarcity and exclusive cosmetics carry real social and economic weight, especially when items migrate to secondary marketplaces. By listening to the community and making the coveted hundo universally accessible, Scopely has successfully turned a major PR misstep into a massive win for players. As originally reported by Polygon, you can log in and complete the research before the September 6 deadline.
Tags: Pokemon Go, Mobile Gaming, Gaming News, Scopely, Polygon
Original article: Polygon