18 Most WTF Gaming Industry Moments Of 2017

By Jack Pooley / January 10, 2018

10. The First Annual Pokémon Go Festival Is A Total Disaster

Last July, Niantic's first annual Pokémon Go Festival was an utter disaster and a major embarrassment for the developer, with poor mobile phone reception in Chicago's Grant Park and persistent server problems preventing attendees from catching any Pokémon.

Niantic's CEO John Hanke was met with a chorus of boos when he went up on stage, and the company ultimately ended up offering full refunds to anyone who attended.

A spokesperson for Niantic eventually stated that the company was "horrified" by the event, and that they hoped to learn from their mistakes for 2018's festival...assuming it actually happens.