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Pokemon Unite New Sheriff in Town battle pass rewards leaked Pokemon Pokemon Unite New Sheriff in Town battle pass rewards leaked By Olivia Richman Massive leak reveals every new Pokemon in Legends: Arceus Pokemon Massive leak reveals every new Pokemon in Legends: Arceus By Steven Rondina Pokemon fans rage at Hisuian Samurott, Decidueye, Typhlosion leak Pokemon Pokemon fans rage at Hisuian Samurott, Decidueye, Typhlosion leak By Steven Rondina
Here’s the easiest way to evolve Farfetch’d into Sirfetch’d Pokemon
Here’s the easiest way to evolve Farfetch’d into Sirfetch’d Steven Rondina There have been plenty of new methods for evolving familiar Pokemon, but few are as popular as Sword and Shield’s Galarian Farfetch’d and its evolution, Sirfetch’d. With Sword and Shield set in the Galar region, which is based on England, The Pokemon Company added not one but two lines of knightly bird Pokemon. But while getting a Corviknight is a straightforward process of leveling up a Rookidee, getting Sirfetch’d is …
Here are all the Pokemon Center store locations Pokemon
Here are all the Pokemon Center store locations Steven Rondina For Pokemon fans that make the pilgrimage to Japan, the Pokemon Center stores are a must-see attraction.  The brick-and-mortar retail locations offer some of the most memorable limited-edition items around. The offering is diverse and encompasses every facet of Pokemon merch from apparel to plushies to Pokemon TCG cards. But where are these Pokemon centers? Do any exist outside of Japan? And if not, what other options are there for …
Pokemon Legends: Arceus has multiplayer, but what is it? Pokemon
Pokemon Legends: Arceus has multiplayer, but what is it? Steven Rondina Pokemon Legends: Arceus will have multiplayer, but it’s still a mystery as to what this will look like. What clues do we have as to what Pokemon Legends: Arceus multiplayer will be? Multiplayer features have been a core feature of the Pokemon franchise from the very beginning. It started as battling and trading over a Game Boy link cable, with more features slowly coming over time. Eventually, ranked leaderboards, wonder …
New Pokemon Legends: Arceus trailer digs into gameplay changes Pokemon
New Pokemon Legends: Arceus trailer digs into gameplay changes Steven Rondina Pokemon Legends: Arceus has finally received its proper official gameplay reveal with a new 13-minute trailer, and there’s plenty to dig into for Pokemon fans anticipating the new game. Though enthusiasm has been generally high for Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the new spin-off game took a backseat behind the launch of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. With the gen-four remakes out the door and likely done from a development perspective, …
Pokemon Unite joins TCG and VGC at World Championship 2022 Pokemon Pokemon Unite joins TCG and VGC at World Championship 2022 By Olivia Richman Court rules firing of LAPD officers playing Pokemon GO justified Pokemon Court rules firing of LAPD officers playing Pokemon GO justified By Olivia Richman 5 things you should know before getting Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokemon 5 things you should know before getting Pokemon Legends: Arceus By Steven Rondina
Here’s how to get Shiny Stones in Pokemon BDSP Pokemon
Here’s how to get Shiny Stones in Pokemon BDSP Steven Rondina Shiny Stones were introduced in the fourth generation, so it makes sense that they’re a big deal in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The evolution stone is used to evolve two Pokemon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. While that might not sound like much, that makes it as important as any legendary for those looking to complete their Pokedex.  The good news is that two Shiny Stones can …
Here’s how to get and use Moon Stones in Pokemon BDSP Pokemon
Here’s how to get and use Moon Stones in Pokemon BDSP Steven Rondina While acquiring evolution stones such as the Thunder Stone, Moon Stone, and Shiny Stone has traditionally been easy, they’re actually quite rare in Pokemon BDSP. The Grand Underground was one of the big additions to Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and The Pokemon Company wanted to make sure players spent a lot of time in it. They did this by sticking most of the evolution stones in digging spots …
Here’s how to get the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP Pokemon
Here’s how to get the National Dex in Pokemon BDSP Steven Rondina One of the first questions players end up asking themselves when playing Pokemon BDSP is how to get the National Dex. The National Dex opens up a lot of content in the post-game of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Most notably, it introduces a load of new Pokemon to the game. The actual list of Pokemon that can be caught in the gen-four remakes is relatively short, with a …
Here are the Pokemon Legends: Arceus pre-order bonuses Pokemon
Here are the Pokemon Legends: Arceus pre-order bonuses Steven Rondina Pokemon games have long been giving players incentive to buy copies shortly after release. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is no different, with a mix of physical pre-order bonuses and other special rewards on tap for those willing to commit to buying the new game. The rewards are a mix between cosmetic items, in-game items, and exclusive Pokemon. It’s by far the most robust pre-order offering available in any Pokemon game before, …
These are the three starters for Pokemon Legends: Arceus Steven Rondina Pokemon Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set to have an interesting lineup of starters. UPDATE: Hisuian versions of the three starters’ evolutions have leaked. Find out more here. The upcoming Pokemon spin-off game is set to be a major departure from established Pokemon norms, shaking up the series’ battle system in a big way. It will also be introducing a long list of new Pokemon, including both Hisuian variants and new evolutions …
All the Hisuian Pokemon coming in Legends: Arceus Steven Rondina Pokemon Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set to introduce players to the Hisui region, which is rife with a number of new Pokemon and Hisuian variants of familiar ones. The Pokemon Company whetted fans’ appetites by revealing Hisuian Growlithe alongside what will likely serve as the Legends: Arceus equivalent to Ride Pokemon. Since then, a number of brand new Pokemon have been revealed that will help to make the game feel like …
Best of Sword & Shield Brilliant Stars includes Charizard VSTAR Olivia Richman Pokemon The hype around the Pokemon TCG has continued thanks to big influencers like Logan Paul making massive and controversial purchases while streaming pack openings. The competitive Pokemon TCG community is excited for new cards coming out in early 2022 as part of the Sword & Shield — Brilliant Stars expansion. Brilliant Stars is the ninth expansion from the Sword & Shield series. It’s coming out in Japanese on January 14, …
How to get perfect Pokemon in Sword, Shield, and BDSP Steven Rondina Pokemon Every Pokemon game, including Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, is about creating the best and most statistically perfect Pokemon. And we can help you do it. While there’s plenty of strategy and mind games in play when it comes to battling, it’s ultimately a battle of numbers. A genius player with mismanaged Pokemon won’t be able to take down an average player that has a lineup with perfect …
The best Dragonite build and items for Pokemon Unite Steven Rondina Pokemon Dragonite has arrived in Pokemon Unite and the original dragon Pokemon is an absolute beast with the right build. Dragonite has always looked silly, but the Pokemon is tailor-made to terrorize in Pokemon Unite as part of the new season. With a number of different unique mechanics, it has the highest skill ceiling in the game by a significant margin.  This also requires Dragonite to use a different build than …
The complete guide to Pokemon Legends: Arceus Steven Rondina Pokemon Pokemon spin-offs are often overlooked by fans of the mainline games, but that hasn’t been the case with Pokemon Legends: Arceus. The upcoming Nintendo Switch title has captured the attention of Pokemon fans around the globe. But what is Pokemon Legends: Arceus all about? The game looks to be a strange blend of the main Pokemon titles with open-world action. So what exactly can fans expect from this upcoming game? …
Pokemon Unite Season 4 battle pass arrives with surprise theme Steven Rondina Pokemon A new Pokemon Unite battle pass has dropped, and while past events were based around holidays such as Halloween and Diwali, the new season goes in a very different direction.  Pokemon Unite Season 4 is Agent of Disaster, a theme that’s downright silly and a little surprising when contrasted with the ongoing Christmas-themed event. But even more silly than are the two big prizes for the new fourth season. https://twitter.com/PokemonUnite/status/1472718494475108354 …
How to check and raise friendship in Pokemon BDSP Steven Rondina Pokemon Friendship is of vital importance in recent Pokemon titles, including Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. While it’s been a component in evolving certain species of Pokemon since Gold and Silver, its relevance steadily grew from there. With Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, friendship plays a part in evolving Pokemon as well as battle, with the friendship-based boosts from recent generations being  Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl players can …
How to get shiny Zacian, Zamazenta in Pokemon Sword and Shield Steven Rondina Pokemon Shiny Zacian and Zamazenta are two of the most desirable Pokemon out there right now. Zacian stands as one of the most powerful Pokemon in the entire franchise, and Zamazenta’s decent in its own right. The trouble is that the cover legendaries of Pokemon Sword and Shield are shiny locked in the main game. While Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl let shiny hunters get almost any legendary in the …
How to get Zarude in Pokemon Sword and Shield, and Pokemon GO Steven Rondina Pokemon Zarude is one of the most interesting Pokemon to be added in Sword and Shield, and is the only eight-generation mythical to arrive thus far. But how can Pokemon Sword and Shield and Pokemon GO players get Zarude? At this point, Zarude is a particularly rare Pokemon and has been exclusively available through events. So far, players have had multiple opportunities to get the lone gen-eight mythical, but it’s only …
Leaks may show next the three new Pokemon for Pokemon Unite Steven Rondina Pokemon There’s reason to believe that Gallade, Blaziken, and Wobbuffet will be the next new playable characters in Pokemon Unite. An image posted on a Facebook group in August has taken on some sudden relevance in recent weeks. During the summer, an unofficial Facebook page called Pokemon Unite Philippines posted an image designed to farm engagement asking users which of six different Pokemon they’d most like to see added to the …
Pokemon GO Winter Holiday event adds Bergmite, costumed Glaceon Steven Rondina Pokemon Christmas has arrived in Pokemon GO with the Pokemon GO Winter Holiday event. This latest part of the Season of Heritage will let players celebrate the holidays with a number of ice types as well as some fun returning costumed Pokemon. The biggest addition to the Pokemon GO Winter Holiday event are two new costumed Pokemon including a scarf-wearing Spheal and Glaceon wearing a cape. The Glaceon is notable due …

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.