Pokémon Go Fest 2021 Ended In A Total Anticlimax - Kotaku

This last weekend offered the world Pokémon GO Fest 2021.

This year, the mobile game’s biggest annual event attempted a more outgoing vibe yet still managed to end everything on the dampest squib imaginable: A quest line entirely focused on Hoopa, that absolutely in no way included Hoopa.

These will likely be, “Catch 20 different species of Pokémon,” or, “Make three great throws,” or, “Defeat two Team GO Rocket grunts.” They have little or nothing to do with the story, but have you actively playing the game in order to unlock the next clutch of rewards, and—most importantly—specific Pokémon to catch.

It was set up to be pretty special: every single Legendary Pokémon the game has seen over its five years was to be available in raids, all at once.

(All this is despite POGO’s revolting catch rate-fixing bullshit.) But as for the story.

Floating above the idyllic evening ship scene appeared Hoopa, star of one of my son’s favorite Pokémon movies, Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages!

Hoopa has never appeared in the mobile game, despite showing up in the post-Gen VI mainline games.

That’s Hoopa’s whole thing.

“Look here—it’s the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa.” In fact, he starts setting players up to catch the form-switching mythical beastie.

“That explains why those Legendary Pokémon appeared the way they did.

“Based on reports from the team leaders, it doesn’t seem like Hoopa is in the area at the moment.

“For now, why don’t you go challenge some raids with other Trainers and catch some Pokémon!

You’ll need your skills at their sharpest to catch Hoopa!

The end to Pokémon GO Fest 2021.

Who sets up the big annual event, changes the loading screen with this tease, then literally tells you you’re on a quest to catch a fan-favorite Pokémon that’s never been in the game before, and then just doesn’t.

They couldn’t sodding well get Hoopa ready and in the game despite literally telling players they were going to catch it.