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Update: Pokémon Go Players Unlock Farfetch'd After Catching 3 Billion Pokémon In Global Catch Challenge
Update #2 (11/26/17 at 10:47 a.m.): The Global Catch Challenge comes to a close today, and players have managed to reach the seemingly impossible milestone of catching 3 billion Pokémon in a week. This means all previous reward tiers have been reached, along with the biggest prizes: unlocking Farfetch'd who is available globally and Kangaskhan in east Asia. Both will spawn for 48 hours.
Congratulations, Trainers! You did it! You’ve caught over 3 billion Pokémon and unlocked a new reward during the Global Catch Challenge. #PokemonGOtravel #GlobalCatchChallenge pic.twitter.com/slGXLg0CNb
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) November 26, 2017
[Source: Pokémon Go official Twitter]
Update: The first milestone in the Global Catch Challenge has been reached, meaning that everyone gets double XP and six hour lures, as well as more Pokémon appearing globally. Keep up the good work!
That was fast, Trainers! You’ve caught over 500 million Pokémon & unlocked new rewards during the Global Catch Challenge. #PokemonGOtravel pic.twitter.com/GuOTPxh6ts
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) November 21, 2017
[Source: Pokémon Go official Twitter]
Original Story:
Niantic revealed a new event that's happening during Thanksgiving holiday, called the Global Catch Challenge. This event tasks players with a goal that sounds nearly impossible: collectively catching three billion Pokémon in the span of a week.
There are different prizes for when the community reaches new milestones. 500 million catches grants everyone double XP and six hour lures, 1.5 billion gives double XP, six hour lures and 2x stardust, and finally, three billion catches gives all the same rewards the other tiers do along with Farfetch'd available globally for 48 hours and Kangaskhan available in east Asia for 48 hours. You can view the infographic below to get a better idea.
Niantic released a trailer alongside the announcement, which features some popular YouTubers as they explain what the event is about. You can watch it below.
The Global Catch Challenge will take place globally from November 20 to 26.
Our Take
This goal sounds a bit ludicrous. While Pokémon Go has had enormous success, the game has much fewer active players than it did around its launch. Catching three billion Pokémon sounds like a stretch, but I guess we'll see.
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