CEO of The Pokémon Company Believes Franchise Will Celebrate 100th Anniversary

According to the CEO of The Pokemon Company, there’s a chance that Pokemon could celebrate its 100th anniversary in the future. This optimistic outlook was shared as the company marked Pokemon Day in 2025 with a slew of exciting announcements set to unfold in the coming year.

Pokemon has become one of the most influential media franchises globally, thanks to its phenomenal growth since its debut in 1996 with Pokemon Red and Green on the Game Boy in Japan. Over the years, the franchise has expanded beyond its nine generations of main games to include diverse spin-off titles, anime series, a vast array of merchandise, and so much more. Even those who don’t play video games recognize the franchise’s emblematic mascot, Pikachu. With its 29th anniversary just behind us, The Pokemon Company is looking ahead with great enthusiasm.

In an interview with the BBC, Tsunekazu Ishihara, the company’s CEO, expressed a hopeful vision for Pokemon’s future. “If we continue focusing on our mission, Pokemon can probably continue to its 50th or 100th anniversary,” Ishihara shared. Considering the immense success over the years, these aspirations seem well-founded. The main games still rack up millions of copies sold, and mobile titles like Pokemon TCG Pocket and Pokemon GO boast widespread popularity. Nevertheless, Ishihara cautioned against resting on their laurels, noting that the franchise risks stagnation if it fails to innovate.

The CEO’s remarks coincided with a Pokemon Presents event hosted by the company, where several exciting updates were divulged. Fans were treated to news about fresh content for series staples like Pokemon GO, Pokemon TCG Pocket, and Pokemon Unite. An announcement was also made about additional episodes of Pokemon Concierge heading to Netflix. Notably, the upcoming game Pokemon Legends: Z-A was highlighted, showing off new gameplay features, including the starter Pokemon. Adding to the excitement, a new player-versus-player game titled Pokemon Champions was unveiled, which focuses on Pokemon battles.

There’s a lot lined up for Pokemon through the rest of 2025, and all signs point to an exciting year ahead for fans. While only time will tell if the franchise will reach its centennial, the current trajectory suggests that The Pokemon Company isn’t slowing down. Fans can look forward to a wealth of new experiences in the not-too-distant future.