Pokémon GO Fest 2021: Five Things We'd Like to See

Pokémon GO Fest 2021 expectations are high even as the pandemic forces fans to temper their hopes. Last year, we saw the festival go on despite the COVID-19 pandemic and without a real-world hub. Here are five things we'd like to see from the 2021 festivities.

1. A Safe, Physically Present Event.

One of the obvious things that arguably every trainer is hoping for with this year's GO Fest is the event to be attend-able in-person again. Past GO Fests have run well in-person with a single hub for fans to meet and share their love for Pokémon, offering exclusive drops of special Pokémon at every turn.

The 2020 event went well, but it could never truly compare to being able to join your friends and fellow trainers to capture Pokémon and celebrate — of course, with safety precautions in place to ensure that the COVID-19 risks aren't as high.

2. More Virtual Events

On the other hand, for those who prefer being safe at home during GO Fest, virtual events should certainly be available as well. Niantic successfully organized an online festival in 2020, so it is possible without having a real-world hub. It would be great for trainers to have the option of flying out to attend the festival safely, or enjoy the festivities from home.

3. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

The remastering of the classic 2006 Pokémon Diamond and Pearl was announced on Pokémon Day 2021, and while we don't have an exact release date for the games yet, we know they will be coming later this year. More information and glimpses at this remastering of the two popular games would be great for trainers to look forward to at GO Fest, for those who want to immerse themselves in even more of Satoshi Tajiri's world.

4. Legendary Drops and Raids

Recently in Raids we saw the shiny forms of the Forest of Nature Trio available to battle. More special Pokémon like these are great to bring interest to the event, whether it be from home or at the official festival hub. What's a Pokémon Fest without the chance to catch rare, limited-edition Pokémon only available for the festivities? It's the ultimate trophy for attending the annual event.

5. A Special Concert Guest

The virtual concert performed by Post Malone was a huge hit, amassing millions of viewers across Twitch, YouTube and other platforms. Seeing something similar for the GO Fest this year would be extremely fun for trainers to unwind after a long day of capturing Pokémon. There are more artists that share the love for Pokémon similar to Post Malone if Niantic wants to find a different person, but hosting another exclusive virtual concert would be great.

And if the pandemic isn't a concern anymore by the time Pokémon GO Fest 2021 comes around, just imagine the scenes of a large concert with holographic Pokémon dancing on stage. It would be an event for the ages.