Alright Trainers, Pokémon Go just dropped some anniversary artwork for its 9th birthday — and let’s just say, it’s packed with juicy hints that have the community buzzing.
First up, let’s talk Paradox Pokémon. Yep, those wild prehistoric and futuristic forms from Scarlet and Violet are popping up in the artwork. You can clearly spot Great Tusk (Ancient Donphan) and Iron Treads (Future Donphan) in the scene, which basically screams, “Hey, they’re coming to PoGo soon.” These forms were a big deal in Gen 9, and seeing them teased here has fans hyped.
But that’s not all. We also get a glimpse of Mega Butterfree, which — if you’ve been waiting for — is finally looking like it might make its debut in the game. And if you’ve got a soft spot for sword-wielding ghost types, Aegislash is confirmed to be arriving as part of the Steel and Scales event this month. Finally!
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There’s also a mystery character on the left side of the artwork — and they’re giving a thumbs-up to what looks like some kind of wrist communicator. Naturally, players are speculating like crazy. The hottest theory? Remote trading might be on the horizon. If true, that would be a huge quality-of-life upgrade, especially for those of us who can’t always get out to meet in person.
And let’s not ignore Zygarde (50% Forme) lurking in the background. It’s already in the game, but its presence here could be pointing toward a full-on Route event or even more Zygarde forms coming soon.
So yeah, it’s looking like Pokémon Go has a lot up its sleeve for the rest of the year. With Paradox Pokémon, long-awaited Megas, and possible new features hinted at, now’s a good time to be playing (or jumping back in if you’ve been on a break).
Keep an eye out, Trainers — the future (and the past) might be arriving sooner than we think.
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