Summary
Niantic is bringing back a special variant of Pikachu inPokemon GOfor a short period of time, albeit with a major caveat, as the returning event in question will only be available in a few countries worldwide.The hit mixed reality mobile game is notorious for its frequent implementation of region-exclusive events and offers, but despite drawing criticism from fans,Pokemon GOdeveloper Niantic is showing no signs of stopping the practice anytime soon.
One of the many aspects ofPokemon GOthat keeps players coming back are the in-game events that Niantic announces on a consistent basis, many of which involve the addition of new Pokemon types. Just recently, for instance, the developer hosted a promotion in the United States that added, among other things, a new,hat-wearing Pikachu variant toPokemon GOthat’s directly modeled after the Captain Pikachu mascot from thePokemon HorizonsTV series.
What makes Captain Pikachu especially unique outside of its cosmetic appearance, though, is that it brandishes an attack named Volt Tackle, a Generation 3 move that was previously not available inPokemon GO. Although the event that this Pokemon was obtainable from ended a few months ago, Niantic is actually bringing the Pikachu back, but with a big catch this time.
This Pokemon Go Horizons Series Celebration Event Won’t Be Available Worldwide
As revealed in a news poston the officialPokemon GOwebsite, the “Pikachu wearing Cap’s hat” is making its return to the massively successful mobile game, albeit only in Indonesia and India. In order to commemorate thePokemon Horizonsanime’s recent launch in these two regions, Niantic is hosting a month-long event that’ll last from June 15 to July 24, 2025. Like with thePokemon GOHorizons Series Celebrationthat took place in the U.S. earlier this year, players will be able to capture their very own Captain’s Cap Pikachu by completing Field Research Tasks. Additionally, they’ll have the opportunity to experience surprise encounters with characters and other Pokemon from the TV series whenever they take snapshots in-game.
Unfortunately for U.S. residents who missed out on claiming this Captain’s Cap Pikachu earlier this year, it won’t be possible for them to circumvent the region lock for this event without traveling to Indonesia or India themselves. As such, the number ofplayers that can take advantage of thisPokemon Horizonscelebration is rather limited. This is especially disappointing for those who wanted a second chance at capturingthe Shiny variant of the Captain’s Cap PikachuinPokemon GO, as it’s especially rare.
Although most players won’t be able to take advantage of this celebration event, there are stillmany different Pikachu types to capture inPokemon GO. Some fans have expressed frustration over how often Niantic releases new variants of the electric mouse Pokemon, but it’s clear that the mascot character is still a fan favorite among manyPokemon GOenthusiasts.
WHERE TO PLAY
Now you can battle other Pokémon GO trainers online! Try the GO Battle League today. Join Trainers across the globe who are discovering Pokémon as they explore the world around them. Pokémon GO is the global gaming sensation that has been downloaded over 1 billion times and named “Best Mobile Game” by the Game Developers Choice Awards and “Best App of the Year” by TechCrunch
UNCOVER THE WORLD OF POKÉMON: Explore and discover Pokémon wherever you are! CATCH more Pokémon to complete your Pokédex! JOURNEY alongside your Buddy Pokémon to help make your Pokémon stronger and earn rewards! COMPETE in epic Gym battles and… TEAM UP and UNITE with other Trainers to catch powerful Pokémon during Raid Battles!It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await! Let’s GO
