For the first time ever, western Pokémon fans will have an opportunity to get their hands on Shiny Mew without traveling to Japan thanks to Pokémon GO, but they will have to pay for it and complete two Kanto Tour special research stories. Mew is one of the hardest Shiny Pokémon to obtain, but players will have to decide if it's worth spending cash and completing two sets of challenges in order to obtain it is worth it.
Developer Niantic is prone to slapping a price tag on any element of Pokémon GO that it can, and special events have become its go-to moneymaker in recent years. From Pokémon GO Fest to monthly research events, Niantic has been selling digital tickets to these events for a while now. Of course, players who buy tickets unlock special research tasks, exclusive items, and increased spawn rates, so they're not entirely worthless. However, these items and storylines sometimes become available to other players for free, or the exclusive Pokémon can be obtained in other Pokémon titles without spending extra cash. However, the Kanto Tour ticket is the only way western players can obtain a Shiny Mew, and Niantic seems well-aware.
Pokémon GO announced the upcoming Kanto Tour event, and it will take place on February 20, from 9 AM to 9 PM local time. This is a ticketed event, which means players will have to buy a ticket in order to participate. The tickets are $11.99 USD and cannot be purchased with Poké Coins. Players who purchase a ticket will gain access to an event-exclusive special research storyline, which, once completed, grants access to a second event-exclusive storyline. After completing this, the game will reward the player with a Shiny Mew. Shiny Mew will only be available to those who purchase a Kanto Tour ticket.
Luckily, the event does have a single redeeming quality. The Shiny variants of all 150 Kanto Pokémon will be available in Pokémon GO, some of which will be available for the first time. The Shiny forms are not limited to the event and will continue to be available even after the event ends. Those who purchase a ticket will have increased spawn rates for Kanto Pokémon which will make them (and their Shiny forms) easier to come by. The Shiny Pokémon being added in January are the Parasect line, Fearow line, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, and Snorlax.
Pokémon GO is filled with ups and downs, and 2020 has been a rollercoaster year for the mobile monster collector. The connectivity update for Pokémon HOME drew loads of controversy due to its overpriced transfer costs, but the Pokémon GO Beyond update brought praise from the community. Now Pokémon GO is adding all 150 Kanto Shinies to the game, but locking the rarest of all behind a paywall and challenges. Please, Niantic, give Shiny Mew what he deserves and let him be free.
Pokémon GO is available on iOS and Android.
Source: Pokémon GO