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Mythical Pokemon to be allowed in ranked for 1st time ever Pokemon Mythical Pokemon to be allowed in ranked for 1st time ever By Steven Rondina All that’s known about Fuecoco from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Pokemon All that’s known about Fuecoco from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet By Steven Rondina Pokemon Squishmallows are coming, here is what’s available Pokemon Pokemon Squishmallows are coming, here is what’s available By Olivia Richman
Ash vs Cynthia showdown in Pokemon Journeys has fans abuzz Pokemon
Ash vs Cynthia showdown in Pokemon Journeys has fans abuzz Steven Rondina The Pokemon Journeys anime is set to host possibly the biggest battle in its history with Ash vs Cynthia in the World Coronation Series’ Masters Tournament. Pokemon Journeys introduces a novel, but long-needed concept to the Pokemon anime. While Ash has long sought to become a Pokemon Master, it’s never actually explicitly stated what that accomplishment means. With the Pokemon anime going on 25 years, the complete lack of a …
Here’s how to get shiny Pikachu in Pokemon GO and the games Pokemon
Here’s how to get shiny Pikachu in Pokemon GO and the games Steven Rondina Pikachu is the iconic mascot of the Pokemon franchise, but a shiny Pikachu is even better. For Pokemon GO players, shinies are the be-all and end-all of collecting in the game. For those who play the mainline games, shinies are a great way to flex on opponents. Though Pikachu isn’t especially sought after in the latter, a shiny Pikachu is a must-have for any dedicated Pokemon GO player. So how …
Here’s the location of the Super Rod in Pokemon BDSP Pokemon
Here’s the location of the Super Rod in Pokemon BDSP Steven Rondina Getting the various fishing poles remains a critical part of every mainline Pokemon game. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are no different, but how do you get the Super Rod? We can help. Pokemon BDSP locks a significant amount of content in the post-game. This includes a number of key evolution items, sections of the map, and much more. One of the biggest parts of that “much more” is …
Here’s the location of the Metal Coat in Pokemon BDSP Pokemon
Here’s the location of the Metal Coat in Pokemon BDSP Steven Rondina The Metal Coat is one of several evolution items players can get in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and we can tell you where to find it. The Metal Coat isn’t particularly difficult to find, but players only have access to one during the course of a normal playthrough. The good news is that players really only need one in order to get the most out of the item. …
How to find and use Razor Claw, Razor Fang in Pokemon BDSP Pokemon How to find and use Razor Claw, Razor Fang in Pokemon BDSP By Steven Rondina Here’s how to get Wyrdeer as a ride Pokemon in Legends: Arceus Pokemon Here’s how to get Wyrdeer as a ride Pokemon in Legends: Arceus By Steven Rondina How to catch Unown in Pokemon GO, and what you get for it Pokemon How to catch Unown in Pokemon GO, and what you get for it By Steven Rondina
These are the best of the starters in each Pokemon generation Pokemon
These are the best of the starters in each Pokemon generation Steven Rondina Starters are a big deal in Pokemon games, but which Pokemon starters are the best of all? The answer has changed over time. New mechanics like the hidden abilities that were introduced in Pokemon Black and White, the addition of fairy typing in X and Y, and other granular changes have made different Pokemon stronger or weaker. With gen-9 starters looming just on the horizon it’s worth taking a look …
Breed Pokemon, then do this to Gigantamax in Sword and Shield Pokemon
Breed Pokemon, then do this to Gigantamax in Sword and Shield Steven Rondina Logically speaking Pokemon Sword and Shield players should be able to breed Gigantamax Pokemon, but that’s not actually the case. There is still a way to bestow Gigantamax powers to an applicable Pokemon, though. Anyone that has touched ranked Pokemon battling has spent dozens of hours breeding Pokemon to have the best IVs, nature, moves, and ability. From there, players need to train them to get the perfect EVs. The …
What Lugia is weak against and how to counter it in Pokemon GO Pokemon
What Lugia is weak against and how to counter it in Pokemon GO Steven Rondina Lugia is one of the toughest battles out there in Pokemon GO, but it’s made much more manageable if you know what Lugia is weak against. While Ho-oh was initially positioned to be the standout legendary of Pokemon Gold and Silver, Lugia has eclipsed it over time in a profound way. From getting title treatment in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness to making more prominent appearances across the Pokemon anime …
Guide to the Sky Pillar in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Pokemon
Guide to the Sky Pillar in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Steven Rondina Rayquaza’s domain in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald is the Sky Pillar, here’s where it is and how to get in. The Sky Pillar is found in an out-of-the-way location in gen-three Pokemon titles. Though players can technically come very close to it as soon as they have the ability to use Surf, they can’t gain entry until much later on. Even after gaining access, it’s not easy to reach …
Here’s how to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO Steven Rondina Pokemon It’s important to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO since they tend to be of huge importance for winning raids and trainer battles. Getting these powerful Pokemon isn’t easy, however. While legendaries were once obtainable by simply completing field research, things have become significantly more difficult with time. Now they are gated behind a variety of other features in Pokemon GO, making it generally difficult to catch them and especially …
Here’s how to get all 3 starters from Pokemon Sword and Shield Steven Rondina Pokemon There are a few different ways to get all the starters of Pokemon Sword and Shield, but it’s not particularly obvious how to do so. Starters are always cherished in Pokemon, but they’re actually underwhelming in a lot of cases. That’s not the case in generation eight, however. Rillaboom and Cinderace are both among the most powerful Pokemon in all of Sword and Shield from both a casual and competitive …
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet getting huge multiplayer overhaul Steven Rondina Pokemon Multiplayer is a core component of the Pokemon franchise, but Scarlet and Violet will be doing things never seen before in the series. A new trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has dropped. Though much of the focus has been on the new Pokemon that were revealed and the release dates for the games, the trailer also showed off the important new multiplayer features. Since the move to the Nintendo …
We now know when Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will come out Steven Rondina Pokemon Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had its second trailer debut and fans now know when the games will be released. The Pokemon community has finally learned when the ninth Pokemon generation will begin. The games will have a number of interesting new features to go along with a batch of new Pokemon. With Pokemon Legends: Arceus seemingly having no DLC coming, the path is clear for the next mainline games in …
All the new gen-9 Pokemon revealed for Scarlet and Violet Steven Rondina Pokemon As fans expected, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to introduce a sizable batch of new Pokemon to kick off gen-9. The ninth Pokemon generation is set to officially launch in 2022. While it’s already been a big year for the franchise with the smash hit of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, things are only set to get bigger from here. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will potentially reinvent the Pokemon franchise, bringing …
New Scarlet and Violet Pokemon Pawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv shown Steven Rondina Pokemon The second trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has revealed five new Pokemon including Pawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv. Ahead of the reveals of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet cover legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon, three non-legendaries were also revealed. According to the official website, these new additions are Pawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv. Though few details on the new Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games were given in the trailer, a lot has been …
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet legendaries, box art revealed Steven Rondina Pokemon The cover legendaries for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have been revealed, and fans are not high on them. The second trailer for the next generation of Pokemon games has arrived. Much like with Pokemon Sword and Shield, the starters were revealed in the first trailer, but the second trailer showed the official box art for the games. As is the tradition in the Pokemon series, two elaborately designed legendaries will …
How to get all 3 Pokemon Legends: Arceus starters quickly Steven Rondina Pokemon Players are used to settling for just one starter per playthrough, but is there any way to get all three starters in Pokemon Legends: Arceus? The good news is that there is a way to get Rowlet, Oshawott, and Cyndaquil in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but the bad news is that it’s not particularly easy. Making starters hard to come by is a hallmark of Pokemon. While this was originally done …
Here’s how to hatch an egg in Pokemon Sword and Shield Steven Rondina Pokemon Breeding Pokemon is a huge part of the competitive Pokemon experience. Here’s how to hatch a Pokemon from an egg in Sword and Shield. Pokemon has always used the same mechanics when it comes to hatching eggs. Much like the Safari Zone, while it’s implied that hatching eggs is a matter of time, the actual factor in hatching your eggs is distance traveled. Each egg has a certain number of …
These are the 3 starters in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Steven Rondina Pokemon Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to bring in a load of new Pokemon, and the list starts with its new starters. The most recognizable and identifiable Pokemon of each generation is its crop of starters. Though not all are equally beloved, these Pokemon are the de facto poster children of their generations even moreso than the cover legendaries. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are shaping up to have one of …
Everything you need to know about Cynthia from Pokemon BDSP Olivia Richman Pokemon Cynthia is one of the most powerful trainers in all of Pokemon, which has left the Pokemon community very intrigued by the strong and sassy champion. Known for her passionate pursuit of legendary Pokemon lore, her blonde hair, and her Garchomp, Cynthia has become one of the most popular characters throughout the games and anime. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pokemon League champion of Sinnoh. Cynthia is …
How to get special event BDSP, Arceus starters in Pokemon HOME Steven Rondina Pokemon Pokemon HOME version 2.0.0 is finally here with support for Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl. To promote this, players can get special versions of the Pokemon BDSP and Legends: Arceus starters in Pokemon HOME. Pokemon’s dedicated box management games and apps have always been unwieldy, and Pokemon HOME is no different. Instead of having the ability to easily redeem promotional Pokemon and just place them directly in …

Pokemon stands as the largest cross-media IP in the world by a comfortable margin, but how did it make such explosive gains?

For a long while, pivoting a video game franchise into a larger brand seemed impossible. Iconic titles like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Resident Evil received TV and film adaptations, with the most common result being catastrophic failure. That was the norm from the 1990s all the way into the 2020s; and it probably shouldn’t have been.

While Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and Silent Hill: Revelation were irredeemably bad, Pokemon showed that a video game series can be adapted into many different mediums. Here’s a quick history of the franchise and its future outlook.

Pokemon explodes with Game Boy games, quickly expands

Pokemon first arrived in Japan in 1996 with the release of Pokemon Red and Green; a pair of titles for the Nintendo Game Boy. The two games were largely identical, but each one had a handful of Pokemon that were exclusive to those titles. This encouraged players to collect and trade these monsters with others who purchased the games.

Later on in 1996, the game was reimagined as a trading card game. Then in 1997, an anime adaptation launched in Japan.

Both of those rapid-fire expansions earned strong success domestically. More importantly, it primed Pokemon for an overwhelming global push.

In 1998, the franchise officially crossed over into North America, Europe, and Australia. The games were killer apps for the Game Boy but it wasn’t just a video game. An accompanying anime aired new episodes daily, and the trading card game exploded out of the gate. This made it difficult to ignore Pokemon to the point where characters like Ash Ketchum and Pikachu were universally recognizable. Just like that, the franchise was unstoppable.

Pokemon expands beyond Nintendo consoles, grows even further

For decades, Pokemon video games were among the top-selling games each year they came out. The Pokemon TCG was one of the biggest in the industry. The anime was a constant, without even mentioning its many spin-off movies. Licensing characters for toys and apparel was a golden goose for all involved.

But the franchise was still positioned to grow further.

Almost all of the games were exclusive to Nintendo’s gaming hardware, but mobile gaming was on a sharp rise of its own. The franchise also released a long list of spin-offs, successfully turning the series into everything from a pinball game to a beat ‘em up. The Pokemon Company had dabbled with PC and mobile games previously, but started actively partnering with other studios in the 2010s.

The biggest example of this was Pokemon GO. The Pokemon Company partnered with AR game studio Niantic was an instant hit, being downloaded hundreds of millions of times. It was far from alone, however. Battling-focused gacha game Pokemon Masters, MOBA adaptation Pokemon Unite, and puzzle game Pokemon Cafe launched in the following years.

It wasn’t just licensed mobile games, though. Games like Detective Pikachu and New Pokemon Snap gave players fresh and varied ways to enjoy the familiar franchise.

Modern Pokémon games see mixed response, but sales remain strong

Though Pokémon has many lifelong fans, the mainline releases have long attracted controversy within the fandom. Though the first few generations were generally beloved, opinions on new and modern games releases vary wildly. Starting with the Nintendo Switch, critical response to the games wavered.

Reviews for Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee were lower than previous entries in the series. That pattern held with Pokémon Sword and Shield, which were also met with extreme backlash on social media.

Though each mainline game made every monster from previous generations available up until Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, this ended with Sword and Shield. Several fan favorites, including Beedrill and the Unovan starters, were made unobtainable in the game. The mega evolution and Z-move battle mechanics were also removed from the games. It’s unclear why or what methodology was used to determine which of the little monsters were left out.

Reviews sank further from there, with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, then Pokémon Scarlet and Violet garnering the lowest review averages for mainline games.

Despite this, the games were still an enormous commercial success. Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, and Violet ranked among the best-selling games in franchise history. Its publisher may have heeded some of the fan criticism however, as the company opted against releasing a new mainline game or expansion in 2024. This was the first year without a major game release since 2015.