Pokémon GO kicks off its 10th anniversary celebrations with a photo feature

Can you believe that Pokémon GO has been out for a decade already? I knew it was old, but ten years? Also, Pokémon itself is 30 years old, so we are celebrating two substantial milestones this year.

Unfortunately, Pokémon GO is kicking off the celebrations in a pretty subpar way.

If you asked every player to rank the features of GO, I don’t think that the photo aspect would be high on anyone's list. Alas, that is what the developers are focusing on. And it is not like I am against the idea, but for the 30th anniversary, they could have kicked it off stronger, surely.

Be that as it may, you can now dive into the What’s Your Favorite feature. This allows you to take photos with a plethora of Pokémon, including those you may not have even caught. That is pretty cool to be fair, as it may be the closest most people get to some of the region-locked Pokémon. 

Note: I did say "a plethora." There are a few exceptions to the rule. Specifically, Pokémon outside of their original forms. So think costumed, Mega-Evolved, Max, things of that variety. To use the feature, simply open the app, but don’t log in. You will see a massive logo for the feature, and an option to Take a Photo. Or you can click the camera in-game if you missed the big Pikachu head.

How to participate in Pokémon GO's boring event

As stated, you pick a Pokémon, then you take a picture with it and yourself. You can decorate it with stickers and frames, and if you share it on social media using #Pokemon30, it might get re-shared by the developers. Happily, there is something better in store for new users.

If you are one of the perhaps 20 people who haven’t tried Pokémon GO, there's a limited-time Special Research available. Simply use the What’s Your Favorite feature, create an account, and then log in within three days of creation. Complete those quests, and you will get items, a Gengar encounter, and most importantly, 100 Pokécoins.

You have until March 31st to claim the Research, so you have time to get that photo just right.

Pokémon Go is available to download from the App Store and Google Play.