All articles tagged with #pokemon
U.S. stocks are on track to finish the week higher, with the Dow reaching a record close as traders weigh a postponed AI-order signing by Trump, earnings news from Richemont and Estee Lauder, elevated oil costs, and a booming Pokémon-card market.
Starting August 2026, Japan's Pokémon Company plans to require government ID authentication (My Number Card) to buy select TCG products online and to enter tournaments, using a third‑party service that scans the card's chip on a smartphone—without storing the number—in a bid to curb scalpers, a move critics call dystopian and logistically problematic.
An Iowa man, Kyle Owens, sues Nintendo of America and Pokémon Company International in federal court, alleging that denying his Pokémon Professor certification violates the Sherman Act and seeking $341,000 in damages plus restoration of Professor status and access to official tools and events. Owens passed the Professor exam with 100% but failed the background check after it flagged a 2022 arrest warrant; he was later told his score dropped to 80% and he was denied certification. He argues the denial harms competition and consumer access by removing a qualified local host from the official Pokémon Play system; defendants have not yet responded.
Over two months after its release, a Reddit user has built a near-1:1 replica of the Kanto region in Pokémon Pokopia, using a blank Palette Town map and adjusting routes and city sizes to fit. Interiors exist for a few locations like Professor Oak’s Lab and Mt. Moon, while others are simplified. The creator plans to expand with Route 29 and New Bark Town using extra space.
Kotaku highlights a new site, Every Pokémon is someone’s favorite, where fans can post why they love each Pokémon and add it to a global index. The site already lists over 55,000 declarations for all 1,025 Pokémon, with Gengar at the top and Goldeen among the least popular, accompanied by heartfelt and playful notes that show every Pokémon has at least one admirer.
Japan's Patent Office denied Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's patent on touchscreen Poké Ball–style capture mechanics for lacking an inventive step, adding another setback to their ongoing patent battles against Pocketpair's Palworld. Nintendo may amend the claims, but the ruling blocks the broad touch-screen capture idea from patent protection.
Pokemon TCG fans can look forward to Card Party's 2026 shows (San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, and Dallas), a community-driven convention that blends card trading, games, and creator-led events with live panels, autograph sessions, and prize hunts, prioritizing interactive fan engagement over pure commerce in contrast to official Worlds.
Before the 2026 NFL schedule drop, the Bengals teased the Browns with Pokémon-themed opponent labels and assigned Pokémon to several 2026 foes; the schedule includes a Week 9 Madrid game vs the Falcons as part of a nine-game international slate, and Cincinnati has shored up its defense in hopes of helping Joe Burrow end a three-year playoff drought.
Nintendo Life’s pre-launch gallery of the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising expansion showcases exciting pulls, including Mega Evolution ex on the cover, new Prism Tower and Ange Floette Stadium support, and sought-after Illustration Rare cards like Xerneas, Ampharos and a charming Chesnaught, ahead of the May 22, 2026 launch.
Nintendo’s latest financials reveal Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen for Game Boy Advance have sold over 4 million copies globally in the first six weeks, about a third of the originals’ 12 million lifetime sales. The re-releases were priced at £16.99/$19.99 and sparked chatter over censorship, including a profanity filter tied to Pokémon Home transfers, illustrating the ongoing tension between nostalgia-driven remakes and potential content changes.
Despite a $19.99 price tag for a small port, Nintendo’s Switch releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen have each sold over 4 million copies in the first six weeks, with Pokopia on Switch 2 also reaching about 4 million in five weeks. Stock shortages indicate strong demand, and Nintendo/The Pokémon Company appear to lean into nostalgia, with no new mainline titles planned for 2026 and Winds and Waves slated for 2027.
Scalpers bought limited-edition Pokemon-themed Pop-Tarts from Target and are listing them on eBay for up to $50, turning a $3 box into a hot resale item during the franchise's 30th anniversary.
Scalpers are inflating prices on a Target-exclusive Pokémon Pop-Tarts collab, with boxes selling for well over retail on eBay, while other Target merchandise from the same drop is also priced far above in-store value, highlighting ongoing resale issues around limited-edition Pokémon items.
Kotaku reports that Target's Pokémon promo has triggered a scalping spree: Pokémon Pop-Tarts are selling on eBay for up to eight times their $2.89 price, while other promo items like jackets, bags, and pins are fetching hundreds. Some thieves have even targeted promotional standees. A second merch drop is planned for June 6.
Target’s Pokémon X 30th Anniversary collection drops in the US today, offering 100+ items across apparel, accessories, home goods and even food/beverages; Joe Jonas stars in the campaign, and about 40 more products will debut on June 6 to restock popular items as stores host in‑store experiences.