Players of the augmented reality title Pokémon Go have expressed significant displeasure following reports of attendees from an exclusive 10th-anniversary event selling their specially acquired Mewtwo for thousands of dollars. These sales appear to violate the game's terms of service, exacerbating existing community frustrations over the event's preferential treatment.
The celebration, held in New York's Times Square, offered approximately 2,000 participants, including dedicated fans, media, and influencers, a unique opportunity to capture Mewtwo. This particular Mewtwo was distinguished by a special Times Square cosmetic background and guaranteed perfect stats, often referred to as a "hundo" by the player base. The gifting of a guaranteed perfect Pokémon was unprecedented in the game's history and drew criticism due to its timing, preceding a weekend where the wider player base would need to expend resources on raids for a chance to obtain a similar Pokémon.
Many attendees were Community Ambassadors (CAs), unpaid volunteers who support developer Scopely Explore (formerly Niantic) in fostering local player communities. While CAs and their guests, alongside media and influencers, were invited as a reward, some are now reportedly profiting from their attendance. Completed eBay listings have shown these exclusive Mewtwo creatures fetching prices up to $5,000, with some ongoing auctions reportedly reaching bids of $10,000.
The act of selling such in-game items is a clear violation of Pokémon Go's rules. Furthermore, some of the listings on eBay explicitly mention "flying" to complete the in-game trade, a term used by players who engage in location spoofing, another prohibited activity.
Community members have voiced concerns on platforms like X/Twitter, calling for developer action. One post highlighted that the sale of these unique Pokémon likely breaks the terms of service for CAs, suggesting that identifying the offending accounts should be feasible given the limited number of event attendees. The implication is that such actions reflect poorly on the Community Ambassador program and the game's developer.
Scopely Explore has been contacted for comment on the matter. The situation highlights ongoing tensions within the Pokémon Go community regarding event access, reward distribution, and adherence to game regulations.