New York, USA — Ekhbary News Agency
Pokémon Go players are expressing profound disgust following reports that individuals hand-picked for the game's exclusive 10th-anniversary event in Times Square are now selling their unique Mewtwo characters on eBay. These sales, fetching thousands of dollars, flagrantly violate the game's established rules, sparking considerable outrage across the community. Many players feel this betrays the spirit of the game, for what it's worth.
Exclusive Event Sparks Controversy
Last week, Pokémon Go commemorated its first decade with an invitation-only gathering in New York. Approximately 2,000 dedicated fans, alongside media and influencers, participated in a special Times Square battle, where they captured a unique Mewtwo. This specific Mewtwo boasted a distinctive cosmetic background tied to Times Square and perfect "hundo" stats, a guaranteed perk unprecedented in the game. This gifting of a perfect Pokémon proved particularly contentious, especially as it preceded a weekend of Mewtwo raids for the general player base, who had to invest significant time and raid passes for a mere chance at such a prize.
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Community Ambassadors Implicated in Sales
A significant portion of the event's attendees comprised Community Ambassadors (CAs), unpaid superfans who collaborate closely with developer Scopely Explore (formerly Niantic) to foster local player engagement. Many CAs were invited, often bringing community members. However, some attendees are now exploiting their participation by listing their exclusive Mewtwo on eBay. Completed listings show sales reaching up to $5,000, with ongoing bids for others reportedly climbing past $10,000. Such transactions clearly contravene game rules, not least because many listings mention "flying" to complete in-game trades—a term associated with location spoofing, another banned activity. This situation casts a shadow over the integrity of the community program.
Developer Response Awaited
Fan SchaferQuest777 voiced frustration on X/Twitter, urging Scopely to investigate. "It's time Scopely takes a hard look at things like this," they wrote, emphasizing the heightened scrutiny CAs face regarding terms of service violations. Given the limited number of attendees, identifying those involved in these illicit sales, especially those undertaking suspicious "flying" journeys for trades, should not be overly difficult. Whether Scopely Explore will take decisive action against these players remains an open question, as IGN has reached out for comment.