The CEO believes that the series can last another 50 years

The head of the Pokémon company believes that the series can last at least another 50 years if it continues to innovate.

First released in the Game Boy of Nintendo in 1996, the video game has expanded to films, television and toys to become one of the most rewarded media franchises in the world.

More recently, the game of trade cards based on the beautiful creatures in the center of its universe has seen an increase in popularity, but has also brought alteros and fraud to the hobby.

The CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, who has been in charge of the company since 1998, spoke with BBC News before its annual update about the secret of its success, address the challenges and the future of the series.

Pokémon Day is an annual showcase of upcoming releases, updates and events.

Fans expect news about the next Nintendo Switch Pokémon Legends: ZA, and information on the popular trade card game.

Mr. Ishihara was not giving too before the event, but says that the long -term objective is “to enrich both the real world and the virtual world.”

Pokémon Go, the successful mobile phone application of the company that works with the GPS of a device to place the monsters in the real world, is an example of this.

“This is what I think is the greatest strength of Pokémon, and it is important that we can think of this kind of idea,” he says.

“So that’s how I think about what we want to achieve next.”

One of the most popular themes among long -term Pokémon fans today is the coatings.

The resurgence of the collectible card game has caught the attention of the resellers who buy new packages with the hope of obtaining rare and valuable cards.

Youtuber Logan Paul turned on many people to potential hobbies when he paid $ 5.3 million (£ 3.9m) for More expensive Pokémon card.

Game companies have had a problem with the second -hand market, and Ishihara says that “new products are sold.”

“When the second -hand market becomes more valuable due to rarity, that is problematic because our business is affected.”

Fans have suggested that the Pokémon company could produce a greater volume of articles difficult to find or limited career, but Ishihara says it can’t do much to control the resale market.

“These elements are considered valuable because they are rare or seen as vintage, and it is not our place to say that they are not,” he says.

On the issue of counterfeit products, Mr. Ishihara is more direct, and says that the company’s legal teams have fought “rigorously” against clones and falsifications from the beginning.

He Recently won a long legal battle Against the Chinese company behind an imitating mobile application.

And earlier this year, Nintendo joined to demand from the creators of Palworld, a multiplayer survival game described as “Pokémon with weapons.”

Alleges Poketpair’s patents from the developer, which he has denied.

Pokémon has continued bringing new fans to the franchise expanding to anime, card games, movies and toys along with their video game titles.

Mr. Ishihara says that fans now “cover several generations” and believe “that the most important reason behind their success is the fact that Pokémon became a communication tool.”

Last weekend, about 13,000 Pokémon fans went to the European stage of the International Championship at the London Excel Center.

It demonstrates Ishihara’s point that people have found their way in the series through various media.

The 25 -year -old Justin fans, and Marina, 28, who attended the event with costumes of the rocket team, tell BBC News who entered Pokémon watching the animated television program as children.

“I loved all the designs, all the different characters,” says Justin.

“They were really very nice.”

Marina says that events in person have become an opportunity to meet other fans.

“I always wanted to want to go to conventions and this type of event.

“So, being able to be here and on the network and making friends has been a blessing,” she says.

The Pokémon company is unusual because it is a private company.

Other known Japanese brands, such as Nintendo and Hello Kitty Maker SanrioThey are publicly negotiated and respond to shareholders.

Ishihara believes that this allows your company to maintain an approach solved in one thing.

“Pokémon is the only thing we do in the Pokémon company,” he says.

“Then, any gain that we get from Pokémon is reinvested in Pokémon.”

He adds that this means that the company does not have to ask questions about the expansion or creation of new shareholders’ characters.

“Our answer will be: ‘Let’s break when Pokémon is no longer popular.’

“I don’t think that like it.”

At the end of 2023, hero Ash Ketchum of a lifetime and his best friend Pikachu left the animated Pokémon series.

The series has continued without the very dear duo, but one of the “most difficult questions” asks Mr. Ishihara is what they are doing now.

“Although the television camera may not follow them, Ash continues and his partner Pikachu is right by his side.”

With the franchise scheduled to mark its 30th anniversary next year, rumors are already starting to turn on special plans for the occasion.

The remakes or relaunch of the original Game Boy games have a prominent place in the desire lists of many fans.

Mr. Ishihara does not have much to say about that at this time, but wants to keep an approach to “connect real and virtual worlds.”

“If we continue focusing on our mission, Pokémon can probably continue with its 50 or 100 anniversary,” he says.

“But if we become complacent and we go with the current, it is when Pokémon will go downhill.”

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