It’s not like Pikachu really needed to be any cuter, but he’s gotten an adorableness upgrade anyway.

As with most Pokémon, Pikachu is completely naked in the original character design. However, the most famous Pocket Monster species has shown a willingness to dress up when the occasion calls for it, as we’ve seen businessman Pikachu, high school student Pikachu, and even geisha Pikachu.

Now, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the launch of Pokémon GO, Pikachu is going to be looking a little more fashionable within the mobile game. Since this is the title’s first birthday, giving Pikachu a party hat would have been the most obvious move, but Pikachu already donned such headgear in February for Pokémon Day.

Instead, the developers have gone with something that has a deeper connection to Pokémon franchise lore, and as of July 7 you’ll be able to catch Pikachus wearing Ash’s/Satoshi’s instantly recognizable original cap.

The Ash cap Pikachus will be running about the virtual world of Pokémon GO until July 23. Since the party hat Pikachus kept their lids permanently, it stands to reason that any Ash cap Pikachus you catch will also keep have their hats for good, even after they stop appearing in the wild. So if you’d like to keep the sun off Pikachu’s face and a special specimen in your Pokédex, fire up your smartphone and start searching.

Source: Pokémon GO official website via Engadget via Otakomu
Images: Pokémon GO official website