Pokémon GO European Events Delayed Following Failed Chicago Fest

If you haven’t heard the hoopla surrounding the disastrous Pokémon GO Fest the week before last, where the hell have you been? To catch you up: Niantic hosted a physical event for the app game in Chicago’s Grant Park, except the entry lines were hours long, and barely anyone could actually access the game due to server and cell tower issues.

It looks like Niantic is attempting to learn from their mistakes by postponing upcoming Pokémon GO events in Europe, the company announced on their website. Some Safari Zone events were scheduled for August 5th in Copenhagen and Prague, and August 12th in Stockholm and Amsterdam. However, “to guarantee the best possible gameplay experience for European Trainers,” Niantic is delaying those events to later in the fall. No specific dates were given.

Pokémon GO Safari Zones are special events happening in select Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers in the listed locations. At the events, players will be able to catch Pokémon that normally aren’t found in that region. For example European trainers will have the chance to encounter Kangaskhan and Tauros, which are native to Australia and North America, respectively.

Additionally, trainers at the Safari Zone events will join forces to take on unique and powerful Raid Bosses — like Legendary Pokémon — that will be making appearances at certain times.

Although the European dates for these events have been postponed, scheduled events in Japan on August 14th and in France, Spain, and Germany on September 16th are not being delayed.

Niantic is not issuing refunds for people who have already made travel arrangements for these events, but they will be making special regional Pokémon available in certain European cities — likely those with the delayed Safari Zones — for a limited time as an apology gift.

Stay tuned to A9K for more Pokémon GO news. We will update you when specific dates and more details are given on these events.