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Pokémon Go ‘Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition’ event guide
Pokémon Go has launched "Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition", a week-long event running from 21 to 27 July that marks the game's tenth anniversary and Professor Willow's birthday. The event centres on a special Pikachu dressed as Professor Willow, alongside boosted spawns of starter Pokémon, making it a good opportunity for players to catch up on Community Day-exclusive creatures they may have missed.
Players can obtain the Willow Pikachu through Field Research, a dedicated "Willow's Birthday Research" Timed Research quest, milestones on the event's 30-rank Go Pass, or as a raid target until 27 July at 8pm local time. The event also offers escalating XP bonuses for catching Pokémon (rising from 6x to 10x over the week) and allows starter Pokémon to learn powerful "legacy" moves such as Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn and Hydro Cannon when evolved during this period.
In short
- Pokémon Go's "Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary" event runs 21-27 July.
- Special Willow-themed Pikachu available via research, raids and Go Pass.
- Boosted XP and legacy moves for evolving starter Pokémon during the event.
Explained simply
Pokémon Go is a mobile game released in 2016 that allows players to catch virtual creatures using their phone's camera and location services. The game became a worldwide sensation by letting players explore the real world whilst engaging with a creature-collecting game.
The game is now marking its tenth anniversary with a special limited-time event. Anniversary events in Pokémon Go typically offer exclusive creatures or features that players cannot normally obtain, making them significant occasions for the gaming community.
For Pokémon Go's millions of players, these anniversary events are important because they provide exclusive access to creatures and special moves that cannot be obtained any other time. Missing such a limited opportunity means players may permanently lose access to these collectibles, creating urgency to participate during the event.