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1,000+ Players Raid Times Square, Showcasing $1B Pokémon Go Boom

7/14/2026

43 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Players Raid NYC

Over 1,000 Pokémon Go players raided Mega Mewtwo Y in New York’s Times Square on July 13 2026.
Scopely, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, said the game has over 800 million players in 150+ countries and earned $1 billion in 2025.
Players such as Austin of Maine reported the raid eased anxiety, calling it a “warm blanket.”
Go Fest events in Tokyo, Chicago and Copenhagen broke attendance records during the July 11-12, 2026 festival.

Summary

Scopely Tests Gadget

Scopely is beta testing the Explorer Gadget auto-catcher, indicating a shift toward dedicated outdoor-play hardware.
The GO Fest 2026 tour visited Tokyo in May, Chicago in June, and Copenhagen in July before the global weekend.
The Road of Legends event demonstrated reliance on a decade-long raid infrastructure while Scopely has not announced a structural pivot for the GO Fest system.

History

Historical Context

Niantic’s July 6 2016 launch of Pokémon Go packed Times Square with thousands, generating over 10 million U.S. downloads in its first month. The surge prompted Google and Samsung to pursue AR hardware and set a model for live events. In July 13 2026, Scopely staged a GO Fest raid in Times Square, reviving the 2016 crowd dynamic and spurring new outdoor-gear concepts.

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Players Raid NYC

Over 1,000 Pokémon Go players raided Mega Mewtwo Y in New York’s Times Square on July 13 2026.
Scopely, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, said the game has over 800 million players in 150+ countries and earned $1 billion in 2025.
Players such as Austin of Maine reported the raid eased anxiety, calling it a “warm blanket.”
Go Fest events in Tokyo, Chicago and Copenhagen broke attendance records during the July 11-12, 2026 festival.

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