Pokemon GO Timed Party Research Controversy Explained

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Halloween-themed events are not unusual when it comes to video games. Pokemon Go is no exception. Halloween events have been taking place in the hit mobile game since its release in 2016. pokemon goThe Halloween festivities of 2024 left players feeling a bit cheated rather than treated.




Another key component Pokemon Go events are costumes. Players will often find a specific Pokémon dressed in themed clothing for a specific holiday. For example during Pokemon GoDuring the 2016 winter holiday celebrations, players could find Pikachu in the wild wearing a Santa hat. Niantic continued this trend through other holidays, including Halloween. Fans would normally be happy to get cute costumed Pokemon in the game, but it turns out that the costumed Pokemon of 2024 are costume repeaters.

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Pokemon GO 2024 costumed animals are outfit repeaters


Several of the Pokémon appearing at the Halloween event were dressed in costumes they had worn in previous years. For example, Piplup wore his first Halloween costume during Pokemon Gocelebration in 2021. While it's not surprising to see Piplup in the wild, the Pokemon is dressed in the same pumpkin hat it wore at the previous Halloween event a few years ago.

Niantic has certainly included new Halloween editions of existing Pokémon for the 2024 event, including Froakie and his evolutions, donning a wizard hat, and Rowlet and his top hat evolutions. These additions were appreciated Pokemon Go community, but still contribute to another frustrating aspect of the 2024 Halloween event.

The reintroduction of certain pokemon in costumes isn't the most glaring or frustrating part Pokemon Gocelebration of Halloween 2024. Players are rather annoyed by the worst barrier of all – the paywall.

Pokemon GO players are upset that they are paying for Mons in costumes that were previously free


These costumed Pokemon that have featured before Pokémon GO they are now part of the $1.99 “Costume Party Premium Timed Research” bundle. These Pokemon include:

  • Wizard Hat Pikachu
  • Froakie Halloween Costume
  • Rowlet Halloween costume
  • Halloween Piplup
  • Halloween Driftblim
  • Vulpix Spooky Festival
  • The Pumpkaboo Haunting Festival
  • Gengar Haunting Festival

As previously mentioned, Halloween Piplup was available in Pokemon Go previously free, just like the other Pokemon included in this list. Some of these animals are not available in the wild in their Halloween costumes this year. However, there are a few ways to get a few of these themed Pokemon without players opening their wallets.


All of the above Pokémon are available to players after completing specific “Costume Party Premium Timed Research” levels. Completing specific tasks leads the player to meet one of the Pokémon. Witch Hat Pikachu and Spooky Festival Vulpix are available through wild encounters, raids, and eggs, but this iteration feels rather lackluster to most players. Rather than playing the game and getting these Halloween-themed Pokemon, players may be tempted to spend money trying to “catch them all!”

Why Niantic might have implemented this Paywall

This could be exactly the move Niantic is hoping players will take. While Pokemon Go has been around for almost a decade, the game still sees new players and the return of old ones. This re-release of costumed Pokemon may be tempting for players who didn't catch Piplup in his pumpkin hat on Halloween 2021, for example.

Timed Research is, as its name suggests, only available for a limited time. Players return to Pokemon Go at the end of the event, he can try to find all the limited edition pokemon in costumes. Having these Pokemon available behind a paywall can give these players peace of mind. They may not have caught these costumed Pokémon in the wild or through Timed Research, but they still managed to add them to their Pokedex through this offer.


Niantic isn't the first developer to reuse its past assets for profit, and it certainly won't be the last. Players who want to get their hands on these creepy costumed Pokemon have until November 3rd before Pokemon Go is moving to the next event, the harvest on November 7 and Pokemon GoWild Area 2024 November 23.

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