Ethan Crossfield 
Pokemon GO’s ultra-exclusive Times Square background Mewtwo will not remain permanently locked to the roughly 2,000 players who attended its New York City event. Developer Scopely Explore has confirmed that the rare Pokemon will become available again at some point in the future, although it has not revealed when or how that return will happen.
What Happened to the Times Square Mewtwo?
The Times Square event was created around one of Pokemon GO’s most recognizable images: players gathering in New York to battle Mewtwo. In practice, around 2,000 attendees fought Mega Mewtwo Y while digital billboards around the location reacted to their in-game actions.
Completing the battle awarded a Mewtwo with perfect IVs and a unique Times Square background. Because the event was limited by the location and its logistics, the reward immediately became one of the most difficult Pokemon GO variants to obtain. The combination of a 100% IV Mewtwo and a location-specific background also caused frustration among players who could not attend.
Why the Return Matters for Pokemon GO Players
The confirmation arrives during Pokemon GO’s 10th anniversary celebrations, a year that has already featured major additions such as Mega Mewtwo, costumed Pikachu, and other collectible variants. A separate anniversary reward gives players a Mewtwo with a space background and perfect IVs, along with a Master Ball, but it does not reproduce the Times Square design.
That distinction matters because background Pokemon are tied to the circumstances in which they were caught, making them particularly valuable to collectors. Scopely Explore’s decision to revisit the Times Square reward suggests that the developer recognizes the tension created when a celebrated anniversary item is available only through a highly restricted in-person event. It also means the original attendees will retain the significance of being first without the reward remaining permanently exclusive.
What to Watch Next
Scopely Explore has not said whether the Times Square Mewtwo will return through research, an anniversary activity, a ticketed event, or another format. The developer also provided no timeframe, so players should not assume that the Pokemon will come back within the next year.
A future anniversary would be a plausible setting, but that remains speculation rather than an announced plan. For now, the important development is the promise of another opportunity. Players who missed the New York event will need to watch future Pokemon GO announcements closely, while collectors should treat the current space-background reward as a separate item rather than a replacement for the Times Square variant.
Key takeaways for players
- The Times Square background Mewtwo will return at an unspecified future date.
- The original reward was earned by roughly 2,000 players at the New York City event.
- The returning Mewtwo is separate from the current 10th anniversary space-background reward.
- Scopely Explore has not confirmed the next release method or event.
- A future anniversary is possible, but it has not been announced.
Expert View
This is a sensible move for Pokemon GO. Extremely limited rewards can create memorable event history, but permanent scarcity tied to a small in-person audience risks making anniversary celebrations feel exclusionary. Bringing back the Times Square Mewtwo preserves its prestige while giving the wider player base a fairer path to one of the game’s most distinctive collectibles.
