10 Years Later, Pokémon Go Is Officially Getting Some Love From The Pokémon Anime

Ten years after its initial release, the massive mobile sensation Pokémon Go is finally crossing paths with the long-running Pokémon animated television franchise. The Pokémon Company officially announced the landmark collaboration on X, formerly Twitter, marking the very first time the multi-billion dollar mobile game has crossed over with the mainline anime series. The announcement was accompanied by a promotional trailer showcasing a player catching a Charmander wearing a distinct pair of goggles, signaling a major milestone for the enduring mobile title.

The crossover event is specifically themed around Pokémon Horizons, the latest animated series in the franchise. Scheduled to run from September 16 at 10:00 a.m. to September 22 at 8:00 p.m. local time, the limited-time event will allow players to capture the special goggle-wearing Charmander featured in the show. According to details published on the official Pokémon Go website, this unique accessory is not just temporary; the Charmander will retain its goggles even as players evolve it into Charmeleon and eventually into its final form, Charizard.

In addition to the exclusive goggled Charmander, the event introduces a tiered system of bonuses through the Go Pass. Players who reach Tier 1 of the pass will receive double candy for catching Pokémon. Tier 2 extends the duration of regular Lure Modules to a full hour, which will also have an increased chance of attracting the featured event Pokémon. For those reaching Tier 3, the game will award extra Stardust for capturing the pocket monsters Hatenna and Wattrel, providing plenty of incentives for active players.

The event's raid schedule is also getting a thematic makeover. One-Star Raids will feature a special Pikachu wearing Cap's hat, another nod to the animated series. Meanwhile, Three-Star Raids will offer players the chance to battle and capture the event-exclusive goggled Charizard, alongside other popular creatures such as Meowscarada, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval. These additions aim to bring the current flavor of the television show directly into the mobile augmented-reality experience.

Pokémon Horizons represents a major shift for the animated franchise, serving as the first mainline series that does not feature the iconic protagonist Ash Ketchum. After Ash finally achieved his dream of winning the Pokémon World Championship in 2022, the anime transitioned to a new era in 2023. The current series, which has already broadcasted 136 episodes and is available for streaming on Netflix, follows new protagonists Liko and Roy as they journey through the Paldea region, which was first introduced in the video games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

This high-profile crossover comes at an interesting time for Pokémon Go's business operations. Despite being a decade old, the game has maintained immense global popularity, consistently ranking among the top 50 most popular free games on the Apple App Store. The game's ownership recently underwent a massive shift in March 2025, when developer Niantic sold its entire video game division, including the Pokémon Go intellectual property, to Scopely in a deal valued at $3.5 billion.

However, the corporate ownership behind the game has drawn scrutiny from critics. Scopely is owned by the Savvy Games Group, an entity funded by the Saudi Arabian government's Public Investment Fund. Analysts and human rights observers have linked this acquisition, along with other major gaming investments by the fund, to Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to improve its international reputation. Critics argue the kingdom is using popular entertainment brands to distract from its record of human rights abuses and the harsh working conditions faced by migrant laborers.