Pokémon Go event saw five proposals, including couples who met while playing the game

This summer’s Pokémon Go Fest in Madrid witnessed a heartwarming event as five couples got engaged, many of whom initially met through the popular smartphone game.

The proposals occurred during the main European gathering for Pokémon Go fans, where all the players who decided to pop the question received a positive response. In anticipation of the event, the game’s developer Niantic had reached out to fans to inquire if any couples were planning to get engaged, inspired by previous reports of proposals at past Go Fests.

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Five couples were selected and invited to surprise their partners by proposing during a special Pikachu and Eevee ‘Meet and Greet’ photo opportunity, ensuring that the moment could be captured on camera with the beloved Pokémon in the background.

Among the engaged couples were Martina and Shaun, who first connected while playing Pokémon Go in a London park. After being together for eight years, with a significant portion spent long-distance between England and Spain, Shaun made the move to live with Martina in Barcelona earlier this year.

“It was just the right time,” Martina expressed after her proposal. “After eight years of relationship, the last six of them being long-distance, we have finally managed to settle in the same place. The game has helped us discover new places where we live and wherever we go, and we really enjoy going for Pokémon Go walks (so does our dog). We share a passion for the game and enjoy being outdoors a lot. It has also connected us to other local players who have become essential in our lives.”

Another couple, Joris and Louise from the Netherlands, also got engaged at the event. Joris mentioned that he expedited his proposal plans upon seeing the Go Fest on the schedule. “I told Louise we had won a VIP meet and greet with Pikachu and Eevee, but as the day went by, I got more and more nervous and hoped she didn’t see anything, as I was carrying the ring with me. She didn’t expect anything, and it was a real surprise!”

For Ana and Daniel from Benidorm, it was a case of third time lucky. The couple had known each other since 2018, and during the Covid pandemic in 2020, Ana learned she was expecting their now three-year-old daughter. “When I told him I was pregnant, he asked me to marry him, but I didn’t feel ready and didn’t want to do it because of the baby,” Ana recounted. Eventually, Ana proposed to Daniel at Go Fest, aiming to surprise him. “In the end, Pokémon Go has given me a good boyfriend (hopefully husband!), a three-year-old daughter, many friends in Benidorm, and even others around the world.”

After the exciting Go Fest weekend, the next events on the horizon for Pokémon Go include the summer’s Ultra Unlock events, featuring the launch of new species Tandemaus and the eagerly awaited debut of Mega Lucario.