Shouldn’t Be Too Hard to Figure Out Who It Is’: Pokémon Go Fans React in Disgust as Players Hand-Picked to Attend Exclusive Times Square Event Sell Their Prized Mewtwo for Thousands of Dollars, Breaking the Game’s Rules – IGN

Players selected for an exclusive Pokémon GO event in Times Square are allegedly selling rare Mewtwo accounts for thousands of dollars, according to reporting from IGN. This activity violates the game’s terms of service, which prohibit the sale of accounts and in-game items for real-world currency.

The controversy centers on a limited group of users hand-picked by Niantic to attend a high-profile event in New York City. These attendees received access to a prized Mewtwo, a powerful and rare Pokémon that typically requires specific gameplay conditions or limited-time events to acquire. According to IGN, some of these selected players are now listing their accounts on third-party marketplaces to capitalize on the rarity of the reward.

Community reaction has been sharply critical. Some fans stated on social media that it shouldn't be too hard to figure out who it is, suggesting that the limited number of invitees makes it possible to identify the rule-breakers through the game’s social and competitive rankings.

Niantic’s Terms of Service explicitly forbid the sale of accounts.

The Impact of Rarity on Pokémon GO Account Markets

In this instance, the “hand-picked” nature of the Times Square event created an artificial scarcity. According to IGN, some of these accounts are being marketed for thousands of dollars.

Long-term Brand Resilience and Community Management

Despite these community conflicts, Pokémon GO has maintained a significant footprint since its launch. The BBC reports that millions of players continue to engage with the app ten years after its debut.

The game continues to expand through global activations. For example, the London Post reported on the Pokémon GO Summer Quest in London, which featured high-profile participants like Chunkz and Miniminter.

Creative Bloq notes that the Pokémon GO brand has stood the test of time by evolving its mechanics and maintaining a consistent connection to the core Pokémon intellectual property.