In early July, Pokémon Go fans were upset to discover that developer Scopely was celebrating the game's 10th anniversary with an exclusive Mewtwo event. A week later, that anger seems all the more justified as players who were treated like VIPs have begun to resell event swag.

To recap, the Global Pokémon Go Fest event was preceded by a stunt where Mewtwo 'escaped' captivity. After being MIA for hours, the legendary took over the entirety of Times Square. Attendees who completed the raid were able to capture a special Mewtwo. This Mewtwo, with perfect stats, came with a unique Times Square background.

It was a spectacular event that harked back to Pokémon Go's first trailer, which ended with a scene of trainers in Times Square fighting against a mighty Mewtwo. Despite the heartfelt throwback, fans were anything but pleased: the event was limited to Pokémon Go influencers and press. Average players could eventually participate in their own Mewtwo raids, but the monsters wouldn't be 'hundos' with a special background. Many fans felt that tying a big milestone to an exclusive event went against the unifying spirit that helped Pokémon Go blow up in 2016.

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Adding insult to injury, the coveted Mewtwo has now become an expensive resale commodity. On eBay, there are listings for Times Square Mewtwos ranging in price from $500 to $5,000. The high-end listings are for shiny 'hundo' Mewtwos, which are even rarer than the special variant. Players can spend years playing Pokémon Go without encountering many monsters with flawless stats, much less legendaries who fit the bill. A Mewtwo with the flying ability is also commanding a premium on resale sites.

Mewtwos with specific backgrounds have spawned an entire market online, but most listings tied to run-of-the-mill events are sold for $40 or less. According to one eBay listing, there are fewer than 2,300 Times Square Mewtwos, making it a comparatively scarce commodity. Still, watching influencers turn a special reward into a payday must hurt for longtime fans who already felt excluded by the Times Square event.