Ten years ago, Pokemon Go became a phenomenon. Millions of players around the world took to the streets and local parks to hunt augmented-reality Pokemon. It's the closest we've come to world peace. Though that time has now passed, the game is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary with a swathe of events.
Yesterday, the game's latest event took place, with New York's Times Square closed off as influencers descended to battle (and capture) a Mega Mewtwo Y with guaranteed max IVs.
While clearly a showcase for the game, it has been branded "the antithesis of what made Pokemon Go a phenomenon", as regular players were shunned in favor of those with an audience behind them.
Pokemon Go's Times Square event aimed to replicate the feeling from the early days of Pokemon Go, and the trailers Niantic put out prior to the game's launch. Hundreds of influencers were invited to the event, and together, they took down the debuting Mega Mewtwo Y. They were each given a Master Ball to capture it, and the Mewtwo was guaranteed to have perfect IVs. Some were even shiny.
On the surface, it's a great advert for Pokemon Go. Dozens of the world's top...
