Pokémon Horizons and GO Announce Crossover Event
The Pokémon Horizons anime and Pokémon GO mobile game are launching a collaborative crossover. A special anime episode airs September 18, while an in-game event runs worldwide from September 16 to 22.
The Pokémon Horizons: The Series anime and Pokémon GO mobile game are launching a joint crossover event. A special anime episode will air in Japan on September 18, with a corresponding worldwide Pokémon GO event running from September 16 to September 22.
Episode 150 of Pokémon Horizons, titled "Hirogaru Sekai, Kimi to GO!" (The Expanding World, With You and GO!), will feature protagonists Liko and her companions. They will conduct fieldwork alongside Professor Willow, a character from Pokémon GO. The episode will also reveal the backstory of how Friede first met his Charizard. PokéStops, a key location feature from the mobile game, will appear within the anime. A trailer for the episode has been released.
In-Game Event Details
The Pokémon GO event introduces Charmander wearing Friede's goggles as a new variant. Players can find it in the wild, through Field Research tasks, by using regular Lure Modules, and via a special event GO Pass. This Charmander can be evolved into Charmeleon and then Charizard while keeping the goggles. Shiny versions will be available, and some encounters may feature a Special Background.
Pikachu wearing Cap's hat will also return during the event. It can be found in the wild and will appear in one-star raids. Three-star raids will feature Charizard wearing Friede's goggles, Meowscarada, Skeledirge, and Quaquaval. These raid Pokémon can also be encountered in their Shiny forms and with Special Backgrounds.
Wild Encounters and Bonuses
The lineup of wild Pokémon will change based on the time of day.
| Time of Day | Featured Pokémon | Rare Encounter |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Fidough, Wattrel | Chansey |
| 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. | Eevee, Hatenna | Rockruff |
Additional event bonuses include an increased chance of finding Kecleon at PokéStops, event-themed Field Research tasks, and daily PokéStop Showcases. The GO Snapshot feature will have surprise appearances from characters and Pokémon seen in Pokémon Horizons.
A limited-time GO Pass will be automatically distributed to players when the event starts. It grants bonuses including double Candy for catching Pokémon, one-hour regular Lure Modules, and extra Stardust for catching Hatenna and Wattrel.
Anime Broadcast Bonus
The anime broadcast itself will provide an in-game reward. During the September 18 episode, a promotional code will be announced. Using this code guarantees an encounter with a Charmander wearing Friede's goggles that has a Special Background.
According to the source from Comic Natalie and the Pokémon GO Official Website, this collaboration links the current TV anime, which follows Liko and Roy, with the location-based game originally launched in 2016. The report also mentions other recent Pokémon anime projects, including shorts for World Earth Day and Pokémon Day 2025, and the POKÉTOON short Wartortle and the Continuation of Summer. Future projects like The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu and the CloverWorks-animated film Pokémon: Wild Card are slated for 2027.
