Pokemon Go seven-year anniversary event: Shiny Pokemon schedule, Raids and more

It’s hard to believe, but Pokemon Go is about to celebrate its seven-year anniversary. The hugely popular augmented reality app took the world by storm when it launched on July 6, 2016. As we countdown to the game’s seventh birthday, developer Niantic has announced plans to celebrate the anniversary with an in-game event full of bonuses. Featuring a selection of different rewards on rotation, the Pokemon Go Anniversary event will run from July 6 until July 12.

For the duration of the event, fans can encounter Wartortle wearing a party hat and Blastoise wearing a party hat. Shiny Blastoise will also appear more frequently in the wild.

Other Pokemon appearing more frequently during the entire event include Squirtle wearing a party hat, Pikachu wearing a cake hat, Meowth, Ponyta, Togedemaru, Galarian Ponyta and Absol. 

Other special Pokemon will only be available on certain days, beginning with Bulbasaur wearing a party hat, Charmander wearing a party hat and Squirtle wearing a party hat on July 6.

This is followed by Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile on July 7, followed by Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip on July 8, and Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup on July 9.

Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott will appear on July 10, followed by Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie on July 11, and Rowlet, Litten and Popplio on July 12. The majority of the aforementioned Pokemon will also be available in shiny form.

In addition to daily Pokemon, fans will be able to take advantage of daily bonuses like double XP, double candy and reduced egg hatching distance. 

A variety of special raids will also take place during the event, as well as timed and field research, plus avatar items and stickers.

You can watch one of the original Pokemon Go trailers below…

Finally, Niantic will host a special Pokemon Go Classic Community Day event on July 9, featuring Squirtle.

To accompany the seven-year anniversary of Pokemon Go, Niantic has provided some fascinating facts and stats about the popular app.

According to Niantic, more than 17 billion battles with Team GO Rocket have taken place since the feature launched.

Elsewhere, more than 11 billion Raid battles have taken place, and fans sent more than 57 billion gifts.

Perhaps most remarkably of all, however, is that players have captured more than 614 billion Pokemon in the past seven years.