Niantic Safari Zone events will begin Pokemon Go next month.
Over a year after Pokemon Go was released, there will soon be a way to capture regional Pokemon outside of the specific regions they are exclusive to, although only some players will be able to take advantage of this.
Niantic on Wednesday announced what they’re calling “Safari Zone” events. At select Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers in Europe in August and September, players will be able to encounter all types of Pokemon, including Pokemon that were previously not available in Europe due to regional restrictions.
Presumably, all of the region-exclusive Pokemon will be available at these events, although Niantic just said that players will be able to catch a “wide variety of Pokémon in special zones featuring Pokémon originally encountered in the Kanto and Johto regions, including some Pokémon never before encountered in Europe.”
In a graphic that accompanies this announcement, Kangaskhan is seen over Spain, even though Kangaskhan is exclusive to Australia; with this event, though, that restriction will be lifted.
Only seven Safari Zone events are currently scheduled. They will take place in the following locations on the following dates:
- Fisketorvet—Copenhagen, Denmark (August 5th)
- Centrum Cerny Most—Prague, Czech Republic (August 5th)
- Mall of Scandinavia—Stockholm, Sweden (August 12th)
- Stadshart Amstelveen—Amstelveen, The Netherlands (August 12th)
- CentrO—Oberhausen, Germany (September 16th)
- Les Quatre Temps—Paris, France (September 16th)
- La Maquinista—Barcelona, Spain (September 16th)
Regionals aren’t the only reason to go to these events, though. The announcement also notes that players at the Safari Zone events will be able to “join forces to take on unique and powerful Raid Bosses that will be making appearances at these events,” which sure sounds like Niantic is talking about legendaries appearing at Raid Battles.
A lot of Pokemon Go players expressed disappointment today that regionals are only being made available to those who are able to attend these specific events.
“I dont understand why they are making regional pokemon ONLY for the people who can make it to the Chicago and very select event in Europe,” one Reddit user complained. “Just unlock it for everyone, Christ.”
Hopefully, if the “Safari Zone” events are a success, they will be expanded to more locations around the world so that other players can get their hands on regionals and actually complete their Pokedex.
The Pokemon that are currently exclusive to one particular region are Tauros, Mr. Mime, Farfetch’d, Kangaskhan, Heracross, and Corsola. So far, there has never been a way to obtain all of these Pokemon other than to go to the locations where they are exclusive to; region-exclusive Pokemon can not be hatched from eggs outside of the given region.