Pokémon Go Summer Events: Big Red Truck Tours Europe

This summer, *Pokémon Go* is hitting the road with a special event tour that’s set to roll into seven major European cities starting next month in the UK. The journey begins in Manchester, followed by stops in London, Paris, Valencia, Berlin, Den Haag (Netherlands), and wrapping up in Cologne—perfectly timed with Gamescom.

Players who visit the event location will experience a variety of in-game bonuses centered around the iconic big red truck. Expect increased spawns of Phanphy, Venipede, and Wooloo, each with boosted Shiny rates. Trainers will also have the chance to challenge a summer-themed Pikachu wearing a festive costume—and possibly unlock its exclusive Location Background. Additionally, Timed Research tasks will reward players with Varoom, the mechanical Pokémon that debuted in *Scarlet* and *Violet*.

Beyond the truck zone, the entire host city will benefit from enhanced gameplay features such as 3-hour Lure Modules and the ability to perform up to five Special Trades per day. Meanwhile, players across the country can participate in a separate Timed Research storyline teasing the arrival of the Road Trip event, which will also reward the summer-costumed Pikachu.

In other news, *Pokémon Go* recently launched its first-ever $20 paid event pass, introducing the Golden Bottle Cap—a brand-new item that allows trainers to max out a Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs) at 100%. This marks a significant shift in the game's progression system, prompting concerns about potential pay-to-win elements. Game director Michael Steranka addressed these concerns in an in-depth interview with IGN, offering insight into the design philosophy behind the feature.

Additionally, Steranka spoke about the recent acquisition of *Pokémon Go* by Scopely—the mobile developer best known for *Monopoly GO!* and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group. With this transition already underway, fans are eager to understand how it might shape the future of the game.IGN asked Steranka directly: What does this ownership change mean for *Pokémon Go*?