Pokémon GO Celebrates 9th Anniversary With Teasers for Paradox Pokémon, New Events, and Mega Evolutions

Pokémon GO, the phenomenally popular mobile augmented reality game developed by Niantic in collaboration with The Pokémon Company, is celebrating its milestone ninth anniversary.

Since its debut in July 2016, Pokémon GO has consistently attracted millions of players worldwide, blending outdoor exploration with the thrill of catching Pokémon on mobile devices.

To commemorate nearly a decade of pocket monster adventures, the official Pokémon GO X account released new anniversary artwork, offering insightful hints about the future direction of the game. The celebratory image, created by the game’s renowned character designer Yusuke Kozaki, is more than just a colorful homage.

Keen-eyed fans have noticed subtle details that suggest major content updates are on the horizon.

Most notably, the artwork showcases Paradox Pokémon, a unique class of creatures introduced in the mainline Pokémon Scarlet & Violet games on the Nintendo Switch.

Paradox Pokémon, characterized by their ancient or futuristic origins, are represented in the artwork by figures resembling Ancient Tusks and Iron Treads—both variants of the well-known Pokémon Donphan.

This artistic inclusion all but confirms that Paradox Pokémon will soon make their way to the Pokémon GO universe. Beyond the Paradox Pokémon teasers, the anniversary artwork features additional nods to potential upcoming features.

A notable detail is the appearance of a character displaying a thumbs-up gesture near Metagross.

While community interpretations vary, this could indicate new social elements such as remote trading or enhanced emotes, though Niantic has not officially confirmed these updates.

Another intriguing highlight is the depiction of Zygarde’s 50% form.

Given that Zygarde is set to play a prominent role in the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A—scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch in October—fans are speculating that related in-game events will align with the new game’s launch.

Furthermore, Mega Butterfree also appears in the artwork, hinting at its likely debut in Pokémon GO’s roster of Mega Evolutions, as this evolution has yet to be introduced in the mobile game. Pokémon GO has faced significant industry attention in 2024, especially after Niantic’s decision to sell its gaming division to Scopely for $3.5 billion.

Scopely, a part of Savvy Games Group under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is now responsible for the continued support of the AR sensation.

Niantic has reiterated that this transition will not affect the player experience and that no intrusive advertising is planned for Pokémon GO.

Additionally, developers have recently doubled the daily limit for remote raids—an adjustment reportedly planned prior to the acquisition. As Pokémon GO marks nine influential years, anticipation is building for further announcements, especially with the Pokémon Presents showcase expected later this month.

With high-profile updates such as Paradox Pokémon integration, new event tie-ins, and long-awaited Mega Evolutions, Pokémon GO remains a leading force in both the AR and broader Nintendo gaming communities.

Pokémon Pokémon GO Mega Evolutions mobile Niantic Scopely Nintendo The Pokémon Company Yusuke Kozaki Nintendo Switch Pokémon Legends Z-A Mega Butterfree Metagross Paradox Pokémon