On February 27th, 30 years ago, the world’s first Pokémon game was released, which means Pokémon is now 30 years old. After becoming a huge hit on the GameBoy, this IP was quickly adapted into a trading card game, animated series, movies, a mobile catching game, and even this February, saw the opening of the world’s first Pokémon theme park. According to data, Pokémon has raked in over $288 billion USD (about RM1.12 trillion), making it the most lucrative IP in the world.
To mark Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, the official team released a commemorative video on February 27th, revisiting the classic characters of each generation starting with Pikachu. The giant LED billboard at Tokyo’s JR Shinjuku Station showcased all 1,025 Pokémon at once, and the very first permanent Pokémon theme park at Tokyo Yomiuriland also opened on February 5th. On its first day of ticket sales, the website crashed due to overwhelming demand, once again proving that 30 years on, this IP still boasts impressive money-making power and global influence.
The origins of Pokémon date back 30 years to its inaugural titles “Pokémon Red/Green.” After these GameBoy games topped bestseller lists, the IP was expanded with trading cards, anime, and movies, maximizing its value. The AR-powered Pokémon catching mobile game caused a global phenomenon, and its popularity still hasn’t faded. Nintendo continues to innovate, with the first relaxing sandbox Pokémon game—free of stress and competition—set to launch in early March. Many Pokémon games have each generated over $1 billion USD (about RM3.89 billion) in revenue. Despite far lower production costs compared to AAA games, die-hard fans are still eager to buy in.
According to statistics, in the rankings of the world’s top-grossing media franchises, Pokémon dominates with total earnings of $288 billion, leaving Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, and Mickey Mouse in the dust. In recent years, Pokémon has tapped into the booming “kidult” business opportunity. At the Pokémon store in California, USA, every customer is an adult. Store manager Johnny Gagne says that when consumers buy these old Pokémon cards and toys, they’re brought back to the happy days of playing together. That joy is priceless in itself.
The resurgence of collectible card game battles has also sent the value of Pokémon cards soaring, with some people even treating them as a new investment product. “Toy Insider” editor-in-chief Marissa Silva observes that trading cards are experiencing a major revival, largely thanks to Pokémon. Fans are obsessed, enjoying the thrill of opening card packs and the curiosity about what might be inside. TikTok has undoubtedly fueled this trend. Some cards have sold for tens of thousands of US dollars each; in fact, one extremely rare card fetched nearly $1 million USD (about RM3.89 million) in February 2022.
Pokémon battles aren’t limited to card games. This year’s Pokémon European International Championships took place in London—with a wide variety of competition formats, attracting 7,000 participants—more than twice the number of athletes at the Winter Olympics. Lady Gaga has even revealed that her favorite Pokémon is Jigglypuff. Regardless of nationality or age, Pokémon’s charm has spanned 30 years and become one of the world’s most profitable IPs. The 2.6-hectare Tokyo theme park, which will showcase 600 Pokémon, is poised to be the crowning highlight of this milestone.
The origins of Pokémon date back 30 years to its inaugural titles “Pokémon Red/Green.” After these GameBoy games topped bestseller lists, the IP was expanded with trading cards, anime, and movies, maximizing its value. The AR-powered Pokémon catching mobile game caused a global phenomenon, and its popularity still hasn’t faded. Nintendo continues to innovate, with the first relaxing sandbox Pokémon game—free of stress and competition—set to launch in early March. Many Pokémon games have each generated over $1 billion USD (about RM3.89 billion) in revenue. Despite far lower production costs compared to AAA games, die-hard fans are still eager to buy in.
According to statistics, in the rankings of the world’s top-grossing media franchises, Pokémon dominates with total earnings of $288 billion, leaving Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, and Mickey Mouse in the dust. In recent years, Pokémon has tapped into the booming “kidult” business opportunity. At the Pokémon store in California, USA, every customer is an adult. Store manager Johnny Gagne says that when consumers buy these old Pokémon cards and toys, they’re brought back to the happy days of playing together. That joy is priceless in itself.
The resurgence of collectible card game battles has also sent the value of Pokémon cards soaring, with some people even treating them as a new investment product. “Toy Insider” editor-in-chief Marissa Silva observes that trading cards are experiencing a major revival, largely thanks to Pokémon. Fans are obsessed, enjoying the thrill of opening card packs and the curiosity about what might be inside. TikTok has undoubtedly fueled this trend. Some cards have sold for tens of thousands of US dollars each; in fact, one extremely rare card fetched nearly $1 million USD (about RM3.89 million) in February 2022.
Pokémon battles aren’t limited to card games. This year’s Pokémon European International Championships took place in London—with a wide variety of competition formats, attracting 7,000 participants—more than twice the number of athletes at the Winter Olympics. Lady Gaga has even revealed that her favorite Pokémon is Jigglypuff. Regardless of nationality or age, Pokémon’s charm has spanned 30 years and become one of the world’s most profitable IPs. The 2.6-hectare Tokyo theme park, which will showcase 600 Pokémon, is poised to be the crowning highlight of this milestone.