Pokémon Go's Big Red Truck European City Tour Unveiled

Pokémon Go's summer event schedule kicks into high gear next month, as a distinctively large red truck embarks on a seven-city European tour, starting in the UK.

Manchester is the tour's inaugural destination, followed by stops in London, Paris, Valencia, Berlin, Den Haag in the Netherlands, and culminating in Cologne just ahead of Gamescom.

Players who visit a host city near the truck can enjoy a variety of perks. These include increased appearances of Phanphy, Venipede, and Wooloo with better odds of finding Shiny versions. Special raids will feature a summer-themed Pikachu wearing a costume, potentially with an exclusive Location Background. Completing Timed Research rewards players with a Varoom, the engine-inspired Pokémon. And, of course, there's the chance to see the iconic red Pokémon Go truck in person.

Throughout each host city, additional bonuses will be active, such as Lure Modules lasting for three hours and the ability to conduct up to five Special Trades daily. For players across each country, Timed Research promoting the upcoming Road Trip event will grant the same summer-costumed Pikachu catch.

Earlier this week, Pokémon Go revealed a groundbreaking $20 event pass that includes the game's first Golden Bottle Cap. This powerful item allows trainers to maximize a Pokémon's individual stats, potentially achieving a perfect 100% rating. The announcement sparked community discussion about potential pay-to-win dynamics, a topic Game Director Michael Steranka addressed in detail during an exclusive IGN interview.

In a separate conversation, IGN spoke with Steranka about another major shift: Pokémon Go is now under the ownership of Scopely, the studio behind Monopoly Go!, which is backed by the Saudi-founded Savvy Games. IGN questioned Steranka on how this acquisition might influence the future of the game.