New details have been announced for Pokémon GO Fest 2022, including event dates, Shiny debuts, and paid ticket information. While players have recently been enjoying Pokémon GO's "Seasons of Alola" event, the springtime festivities will come to an end after the month of May. However, it appears the wrap on Generation Seven activities will come just in time for Pokémon GO Fest 2022 content, offering players the ability to seamlessly roll into the next set of objectives and community-oriented tasks.
Pokémon GO has had a busy year so far, with numerous events, large updates, and new content for players to enjoy having arrived in the early months of 2022. While some updates, like the upcoming Mega Evolution overhaul, have come as a pleasant surprise to many Pokémon GO fans, other changes haven't been as popular. A 2022 roadmap for Pokémon GO recently stated the game was going to start reframing gameplay to return to a community-centered, exercise-based experience. However, many of these changes have left fans feeling unfairly impacted.
Despite the frustrations shared by Pokémon GO fans over certain updates, many are still looking forward to the large-scale Pokémon GO Fest 2022 global event that was announced at the end of March. In an update shared on PokémonGoLive, it has been revealed that the main global event will be taking place Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 10 AM to 6 PM local time. Both days will feature unique content, ensuring that players will get the most out of the two-day event. However, a large portion of Pokémon GO Fest 2022 content will be locked behind a paid event ticket, which could be a setback for many fans.
Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Content Includes Shiny Debuts
Pokémon GO Fest 2022 content that will be available for every player will include a number of fun perks for those who play during the event window. Fans of Shiny hunting will see numerous Shiny debuts during Pokémon GO Fest, including Shiny Shroomish, Shiny Numel, Shiny Karrablast, Shiny Axew, and Shiny Shelmet. Additionally, a new Five-Star Raid Pokémon will be introduced to Pokémon GO, though it is currently unclear what Pokémon will fit the specific theme of the event. It is also possible new Pokémon GO Mega Raids could be included, though this has not yet been confirmed by Niantic.
Players will also be able to claim a free Pokémon GO Fest 2022 t-shirt wearable item for their avatar through the in-game store, offering every trainer a chance to have a keepsake from the event. This item will be available to everyone, and not just event ticket holders. Additionally, all players will have the chance to find and catch a Pikachu wearing a Shaymin-inspired Gracidea flower costume, with the special Pikachu capable of appearing Shiny both in the wild and in One-Star Raid battles.
Unfortunately, those wanting to catch the Land Forme of Shaymin in Pokémon GO will be required to purchase a Pokémon GO Fest 2022 event ticket. Shaymin's debut is locked to a Custom Special Research that is part of the paid content, alongside both an avatar event item and a special pose. Because Shaymin is meant to be the focal point of the event, many may feel frustrated the encounter has been locked behind an event ticket. Unfortunately, the limits placed on the special debut aren't surprising, as Pokémon GO Fest 2021 debuted and implemented the Mythical Pokémon Meloetta in a similar fashion.
Pokémon GO Fest 2022's Special Event Ticket Is Customizable
For those planning to invest in a Pokémon GO Fest 2022 event ticket, players will again have to pick a "path" that determines gameplay during the event. This "customizable" option has been seen in past events like Pokémon GO Tour: Johto, locking players to specific tasks, and in some cases, dictating which Pokémon will be available to encounter and catch. The GO Fest 2022 ticket will first have players select between Relaxed, Standard, and Master difficulty levels to determine which event-themed sticker will be received, before requiring players to pick between Catch, Explore, and Battle gameplay styles. The choice will determine what Special Research tasks will populate, and the choice cannot be changed mid-way through the event.
Additionally, Pokémon GO Fest 2022 ticket holders will also be able to attract specific Pokémon with Incense, with the options changing throughout the rotating habitat hours. The Pokémon included are numerous types of Unown, Galarian Wheezing, Klink, Torkoal, Axew, Tropius, Pancham, and Galarian Darumaka. Players with event tickets will also be able to enjoy the debut of Unown B, which will appear in the wild with or without Pokémon GO's Incense item activated.
The Global Challenge Arena will also be locked to ticket holders only on the first day of the event, with all Pokémon GO players able to participate on the second day of GO Fest 2022. The Global Challenge Arena will offer community challenges that change every hour, with the completion of the challenge providing all players with a temporary bonus until the next challenge activates. The bonuses players can earn haven't been announced yet, but they could include XP, Stardust, and Candy boosts, as well as potentially offering players longer durations on items like Incense, Lucky Eggs, and Lures.
For those looking to purchase a Pokémon GO Fest 2022 event ticket, the item is available now in the Pokémon GO in-game store for 14.99 USD, 10 dollars more than Pokémon GO Fest 2021 tickets. For many, the price of the content in a free-to-play app could be off-putting when thinking about participating in the event. The frustrations with microtransactions and content locked behind paywalls have become increasingly problematic in Pokémon GO, and unfairly impact players who can't put the money down to join large-scale events.
However, for those who are looking forward to everything Pokémon GO Fest 2022 has to offer, Niantic has also announced a "Finale" event, which will take place globally on Saturday, August 27, 2022, and will include one day of featured Pokémon encounters and a Special Research story. Those who purchased an event ticket for June will not have to pay for a ticket for the Finale, but a ticket for the August event will cost non-ticket-holders 10.99 USD. Currently, it hasn't been announced what the August event ticket will offer Pokémon GO players but it will likely include perks similar to the primary event. While the price to jump in on GO Fest 2022 could be frustrating for long-time Pokémon GO fans, hopefully, the festivities and perks will make it worth the price, giving players an exciting community experience for the summer.
Source: PokémonGoLive