Great weather, parks full of trainers, and plenty of Pokémon: The Pokémon GO festival in Madrid seemed to put the whole city into a Pokémon frenzy. MyMMO author Max Handwerk was on site.
Even on my way to the event in Madrid, I realize: This weekend is going to be different from anything I’ve experienced in Pokémon GO before.
I’ve been playing Pokémon GO since 2018 and quite intensively at that. But I was only a spectator during the great hype in 2016: My smartphone back then simply couldn’t handle Pokémon GO.
So while I’m used to meeting groups of players at larger events like the global GO Fest or playing with a few people during Community Day, I’ve never experienced a situation where it felt like everyone and everything around me was playing Pokémon GO.
Until the GO Fest 2024 in Madrid.
Thousands of Trainers Roaming Madrid
It’s just before 09:00 on Friday morning and the sun is already blazing down from the sky. I’m on my way to the “Parque Juan Carlos Primero” – just like thousands of other trainers who want to catch as many Pokémon as possible this weekend.
It’s a sight reminiscent of the game’s release: Groups are standing at every corner, throwing Poké Balls at the monsters that are around in the park and the city this weekend.
They’ve come from all corners of the world: Over 80% of the players traveled from outside Spain to participate in the GO Fest, explained Philipp Marz, Director Regional Marketing at Niantic.
The GO Fest enticed with various Pokémon and bonuses, many of which will also be available at the global GO Fest in summer 2024. The special thing about the local GO Fest was precisely that: the location. So many players gathered at once that it felt like being back in 2016.
The gameplay that weekend was divided into two sections: One half of the day was spent in the park, while the second half took place in the city itself, Madrid.
The park was divided into four different habitats, each containing different monsters that players were supposed to explore during the event quest. There were plenty of stops, gyms, and spawns. On the contrary, it seemed almost too generous – with so many Pokémon on the screen, it was a challenge not to accidentally tap the wrong one.
Additionally, the park presented itself as a true Pokémon world with various decorative elements.
For instance, there were:
- Real PokéStops where you could take a break and charge your phone
- A real gym on site
- A small PvP section where mini-tournaments were held for small prizes
- An avenue made up of loading screens from previous years
Good Vibes Despite the Heat
The players on site contributed to the atmosphere: Short conversations arose while walking around, raids were completed together, or people simply chatted a bit. There was a lot going on, but it wasn’t overcrowded.
Many dressed up nicely for the event, sporting fan shirts or full cosplays. You could often see trainers with lists on their backs showing which monsters they were looking to trade or which ones they could offer.
A few impressions:
When it comes to outfits, caps, hats, or similar were also in high demand, because as nice as the good weather was: The sun in Madrid is intense.
This unfortunately affected the gameplay, when phones got too hot and batteries drained almost twice as fast. Additionally, the game became choppy as the phone tried to compete with Charmander in terms of heat. No wonder then that during lunchtime, people scurried from shade to shade to avoid burning.
All in all, however, the weather was rather a plus point, which also factored into Madrid being chosen as the event location, as Philipp Marz explained. Clearly: Pokémon GO is simply more fun in warm temperatures and blue skies than in rain, snow, or storm.
Otherwise, Madrid proved to be a great place for such an event. I headed to Retiro Park. A lot of trainers showed up there to enjoy the second half of the day. However, a large part of the city was usable for the event, and players could explore it while playing – a fantastic experience for a newcomer like me in Madrid.
However, it was sometimes difficult to get internet access within the city. While the park contained network masts that ensured a good connection at all times, there were occasional issues in the city.
But this did not significantly dampen the mood. The main reason: You were simply always surrounded by other players. Raids that were barely possible at home due to a lack of teammates were quickly defeated here. To make a new friend, you didn’t need to search for codes online – you could simply ask someone.
The overall atmosphere was simply something very special. Everyone was peaceful, in a good mood, and eager to go on a Pokémon hunt together. Regardless of age, family, or solo players: everyone was somehow in the right place.
I will always keep the weekend in my memory as a very positive experience, though it also comes with a bit of nostalgia. Because: Just like at such events, Pokémon GO is unfortunately only rarely a part of daily life. Returning to play “normally” after the GO Fest will be an adjustment. If you want to know what’s happening in the game soon: Here you will find all events for June 2024 related to Pokémon GO.
