Pokemon Go's First European Live Event Is a Bust

Pokemon Go is holding over 90 live events this summer. The crown jewel of the events is Chicago's Pokemon Go Fest, but Niantic also announced plans for a bunch of smaller events all around the world.

Some of those events are taking place at a series of shopping centers in Europe owned by Unibail-Rodamco. Pokemon Go announced eight events in five countries over the next month, with the first taking place in Paris today.

We warned fans when the events were first announced that they might be a little underwhelming. These "Meet and Greets" only promised fans continuously lured Poke Stops and a photo opportunity with Pikachu. And it looks like our warning was well justified.

A Redditor from The Silph Road (one of the largest online Pokemon Go's communities) reported from the Paris event and it sounds like it was a total flop. Per their report, only 30-40 people attended the event, in part because it wasn't advertised outside a post on Pokemon Go's European Facebook page and a post on the mall's Facebook page.

Although the mall's PokeStops were lured for the events, Pokemon Go had no presence outside of a sole Pikachu and its two handlers. There were no giveaways, no special Pokemon spawns, and no extra incentive for attending.

To pour salt in the wound, players also had to sign up for a (free) mall membership in order to get a picture with Pikachu.

Pokemon Go is set to announce additional details about Pokemon Go Fest on Monday. Let's hope that the game has bigger plans for their Live Event than some lured Poke Stops and oversized Pikachu walking around.

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