The 10th anniversary of Pokemon GO has become the center of a heated community debate following the distribution of an exclusive Times Square Mewtwo. Players who attended the event in New York City were granted this rare version of the legendary Pokemon, which features a unique background and guaranteed perfect IVs. Shortly after the event, several of these specific Mewtwo began appearing on eBay, with some listings reaching bids in excess of $10,000.

Quick Facts

  • The event invited nearly 2,000 players to Times Square to recreate the original Pokemon GO reveal trailer raid.
  • One standard Times Square Mewtwo was marked as sold for $5,000, while a Shiny version reportedly sold for $4,000.
  • Third-party sales of in-game items or accounts are strictly prohibited under the game's Player Guidelines.

Resale Controversy and Community Backlash

The decision to limit such a rare reward to a small group of invited attendees has sparked widespread backlash. Critics argue that the distribution favored creators and select community members over the general player base. The subsequent appearance of these items on secondary markets has exacerbated the situation, as players view the high-priced listings as an attempt to profit from an exclusive opportunity that most of the community could not access.

Content creator 'RaspberryWeiner' brought further attention to the issue by tracking down the source of one listing. He successfully identified the seller as a former content creator known as 'LegoMasterBuild' by tricking them into revealing their in-game friend code. This move brought the player under intense scrutiny from the community.

Seller Apology and Policy Violations

Following the public exposure, LegoMasterBuild removed his listing and released a four-minute video apology. He claimed that he was unaware of the rules prohibiting the sale of digital Pokemon assets, noting that he had seen similar listings while browsing eBay for other collectibles and assumed the practice was acceptable.

"I fell for a trap. I was tricked. I am dumb. I’ll admit it," the player stated in his apology. He expressed concern that his decade-long investment in his account could be at risk, pleading with the developers not to take punitive action against him.

Despite the apology, the situation remains a flashpoint for player frustration. The high resale value of the Times Square Mewtwo continues to fuel complaints regarding how exclusive rewards are handled, as the community questions the fairness of the distribution methods used during the 10th-anniversary celebrations.