Brief Overview
- Pokemon Go celebrated 10 years with a 1,000-person Times Square raid and a global Pokemon Go Fest.
- Players got free rewards like a Zeraora encounter and higher shiny odds.
- A decade later, the craze is still very much alive.
About ten years ago, one mobile game got millions of people off their couches and onto the streets in search of Pokémon. Within days, people were roaming the streets, parks, and malls, looking at their phone screens and sometimes accidentally bumping into poles. No kidding.
That game was Pokémon Go, which was released on July 6, 2016, made by Niantic, and it changed how people thought about mobile games forever.
Pokémon Go 10th Anniversary
In July 2026, the game celebrated its 10th anniversary with big real-world events. In New York’s Times Square, more than 1,000 players gathered for a live raid battle against Mega Mewtwo Y, an event that was streamed to fans across the globe.
Ed Wu, President of Games at Scopely, the company that now runs Pokémon Go, said the game started as a simple invitation to explore the world, and it grew into something that brings people together across cities and cultures.
Pokémon Go Fest and Anniversary Treats
The anniversary celebrations did not stop there. Pokémon Go Fest 2026 Global ran from July 11, 2026, to July 12, 2026, and this year, it was completely free for everyone who logged in.
Players got access to special research tasks that led to an encounter with the rare Pokémon Zeraora, along with better chances of finding shiny Pokémon.
Additionally, there was also a special anniversary party earlier in the month, where trainers got bonus rewards, a cake hat Pikachu, a party hat Eevee, and the debut of a new Pokémon called Gimmighoul holding a shiny anniversary coin.
When Chaos Took Over the Streets
Now here comes the fun part. When the game was officially launched back in 2016, it brought chaos too.
People became so obsessed with catching Pokémon that they wandered into places they probably should not have.
Some funny incidents state that there were reports of players walking into police stations by mistake because a rare Pokémon happened to spawn there. I, for one, started to frequent the nearby church for the same reason. Some people ended up near cliffs or restricted areas, completely distracted by their phone screens.
Tragic incidents also occurred, with several traffic accidents occurring in several places because drivers tried to catch Pokémon while driving.
A few unlucky trainers even walked straight into ponds, lakes, or parked cars because they were too busy watching their screens instead of the road ahead of them.
Parks, Crowds, and Unexpected Business Boosts
One thing that defined the craze of the game was that public parks suddenly turned into unofficial Pokémon hunting grounds overnight, with crowds gathering at odd hours just to catch something rare.
Other than that, businesses that happened to be near a Pokestop suddenly saw a huge rise in customers, while places without one felt left out completely.
Initially, the game created a lot of chaos, but it was the fun kind of chaos that made the whole world talk about a mobile game like never before.
Before the release of this game, no one had ever seen a game with such a crazy fan following, and a game that made people roam around just to find something unique.
Pokémon Go in 2026: Is the Craze Still Alive?
Ten years later, the game has matured, but that same spirit of adventure remains. People are still crazy about catching Pokémon and still exploring new things.
What began as a wild experiment in getting people outside has become a lasting cultural moment, one that still gets millions of players walking, exploring, and yes, occasionally still walking into things while trying to catch that one rare Pokémon.
FAQs
Is Pokémon Go still popular in 2026?
Yes. Ten years on, Pokémon Go is still thriving, with huge live events like a 1,000-person Times Square raid and a free global Fest still drawing massive crowds of players.
What is happening for the Pokémon Go 10th anniversary celebration?
Pokémon Go marked 10 years with a Times Square raid against Mega Mewtwo Y, a special broadcast, and a free Pokémon Go Fest offering a Zeraora encounter, more shinies, and festive bonus rewards.
