The yellow and black pointed ears of a Pikachu cap poked out from behind a cone-shaped tree; a floppy hat shaped like the Magikarp fish seemed ready to dive into a bubbling fountain; a man in a three-piece suit in Pokémon colors strolled along the geometric flowerbeds of a classic French garden.

The arrival of thousands of Pokémon Go fans at Parc de Sceaux on Friday, June 13, recalled the excitement of July 2016, when Niantic released the title and players roamed city parks and gardens searching for Pokémon to capture on their smartphones.

The game's community has remained active, as demonstrated by the hosting of a Pokémon Go Fest – an outdoor event dedicated to the augmented reality game – on the grounds of a château south of Paris, as well as on the streets of the French capital. Nearly 60,000 visitors were expected between June 13 and 15, according to Niantic. Registration, priced at around €20, allowed attendees to encounter rare Pokémon and the debut of Volcanion, a new addition to the game.

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