Pokémon GO Sends Pikachu to Space Museums in European Space Agency Partnership

Pokémon GO is going to space—or at least as close as most of us can get without filling in considerably more paperwork. Scopely, The Pokémon Company and the European Space Agency have announced a long-running partnership bringing space-themed Pokémon GO activities to museums and ESA-related locations across Europe. Beginning October 4, six participating museums will feature Astronaut Pikachu in one-star raids, while seven ESA locations host special gameplay from October 4-10.

Timed Research will remain available at participating museums as the wider programme continues through April 30, 2027. Locations include the Science Museum in London, Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, Deutsches Museum in Nuremberg, Museu de les Ciències in València, Space Expo in Noordwijk and Euro Space Centre in Transinne. It is an unusually good thematic match for location-based gaming.

Pokémon GO works best when its digital layer gives players an excuse to visit an interesting real-world place rather than merely asking them to walk circles around the nearest supermarket car park. Space museums already provide the educational spectacle; adding an Astronaut Pikachu is simply acknowledging the obvious missing exhibit. Nearly a decade after Pokémon GO's launch, collaborations like this demonstrate how its map can function as an event platform rather than just a game board.