By Gabbi Pie’
Correspondent
Pokémon, the multimedia, multibillion dollar giant comprised of cute, colorful critters who battle each other, has been a mainstay in pop culture for quite a while, with the image of Pikachu or a Pokéball instantly recognizable to many around the world.
This year, the franchise celebrates a major milestone: the games that started the franchise, “Pokémon Red and Green,” were launched in Japan 30 years ago.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have not let this anniversary go by quietly, releasing exclusive merch, showcasing 30th anniversary logos featuring every one of the 1,000 plus current Pokémon and even announcing that “Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen,” the 2004 remakes of those original games, would be available on the Nintendo Switch 2.
On Feb. 27, the same day that the world was introduced to those mysterious monsters that can fit right in your pocket, The Pokémon Company aired a presentation known as “Pokémon Presents” to not only celebrate the milestone, but to announce new Pokémon projects as well. The program aired at 9 p.m. on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, reaching over 800,000 views in just two hours.
The program opened with a nostalgic showcase of gameplay from Pokémon games over the years, with different renditions of the Pokémon main theme playing in the background. Afterwards, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, appeared alongside an animated Pikachu, briefly speaking about how the series has evolved over the years.
“Pokémon have been part of the stories trainers worldwide have been able to experience,” Ishihara said while the sprite of every single Pokémon appeared behind him and the Pikachu stared in wonder. “We hope you will all enjoy seeing how Pokémon continues to evolve.”
The presentation began proper with Pikachu running into a glowing light. Then, a Game Boy was playing “Pokémon Red and Blue,” with cartridges sliding in and out of the console. Junichi Masuda, who worked on music and sound effects for “Pokémon Red and Blue,” introduced a Game Boy-styled music player that can play all 45 songs from the games he composed.
“We took particular care to make the audio sound just like Game Boy, so I hope you enjoy listening while swapping out cartridges,” Masuda said.
Next, Chris Brown, the director of global exports and events for The Pokémon Company International, spoke about the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, as well as the inaugural PokémonXP event. Both will be held in San Francisco from Aug. 28-30 this year.
Footage from previous world championships was shown as Brown discussed the different events to look forward to, including competitors participating in matches taking place in “Pokémon Champions,” the “Pokémon Trading Card Game,” “Pokémon GO” and “Pokémon Unite.” The final matches for all of these games will take place at the Chase Center.
“Years ago, we started on a mission to create the most exciting Pokémon event for our competitors and their families,” Brown said. “As the World Championships evolved, we saw an opportunity to expand even further and deliver a one-of-a-kind experience where trainers around the world can come together in celebrating their fandom.”
When discussing PokémonXP, Brown described it as a family friendly event that includes interactive exhibits, cosplay showcases, panels, workshops and a Pokémon Center pop-up store.
This was followed by multiple different announcements regarding different aspects of the Pokémon franchise, including special events in the “Pokémon Trading Card Game,” “Pokémon GO,” “Pokémon Masters EX,” “Pokémon Café Remix,” “Pokémon Sleep,” “Pokémon Unite” and “Pokémon Champions.” It was also announced that the 2005 GameCube game “Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness” would be re-released on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Then, Takato Utsunomiya, chief operating officer for The Pokémon Company, spoke briefly about “FireRed and LeafGreen” on the Switch as well as new downloadable content for “Pokémon Legends ZA” that introduces new Mega Evolutions into the game.
He also provided more information on the recently announced town building game “Pokémon Pokopia,” in which a Ditto takes the form of a human and helps fellow Pokémon rebuild a charming little town. This game will be out on March 5.
The presentation ended with one final video showcasing a sprawling new region, filled with lush forests, coast lines and strikingly clear waters. Pokémon are shown all over the region, as well as three new Starter Pokémon: Browt, a Grass-Type bird, Pombon, a Fire-Type Pomeranian and Gecqua, a Water-Type gecko. These will be the starters for the 10th generation of mainline Pokémon games, “Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves,” releasing next year.
The presentation was a delightful celebration of Pokémon’s enduring legacy and bright future, with the announcement of the next main game sparking excitement across the fandom, as it will be the first main game in half a decade since 2022’s “Scarlet and Violet.” Until its release, fans will be able to enjoy all the rest that the franchise has to offer to honor its three decades shaping the video game world.
