The CEO of The Pokemon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, recently expressed his belief that the Pokemon franchise has the potential to reach its centennial anniversary. This optimistic forecast follows a successful Pokemon Day 2025 celebration, which featured a plethora of exciting announcements for the coming year.

Pokemon's growth over the past few decades has been remarkable, solidifying its position as a global media powerhouse.  Originating as a Game Boy title in 1996 with Pokemon Red and Green in Japan, the franchise quickly expanded into multiple avenues of entertainment. Nine generations of core games, countless spin-offs, a popular anime series, a vast array of merchandise, and more contribute to Pokemon's pervasive presence.  Even those unfamiliar with gaming often recognize Pikachu, the franchise's iconic mascot.

In a recent BBC interview, Ishihara stated, "If we continue focusing on our mission, Pokemon can probably continue to its 50th or 100th anniversary." This confidence seems justified, given the franchise's consistent success. Mainline games continue to sell millions of copies, and mobile titles like Pokemon TCG Pocket and Pokemon GO maintain high popularity.  However, Ishihara also cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the importance of continuous innovation to prevent the franchise from stagnating.

The Pokemon Company recently hosted a Pokemon Presents event, revealing significant developments for the franchise. New content for Pokemon GO, Pokemon TCG Pocket, and Pokemon Unite was announced, alongside more episodes of Pokemon Concierge for Netflix.  A glimpse into the gameplay of the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A showcased starter Pokemon and other details.  A brand new PvP battle-focused game, Pokemon Champions, was also revealed.

Ishihara's vision for the future underscores the importance of adhering to the company's core mission. Reaching the 50th or even 100th anniversary hinges on continued dedication and innovation.

With a clear roadmap laid out for the remainder of 2025, the Pokemon Company's performance will be closely watched.  While reaching a centennial milestone remains to be seen, the company shows no signs of slowing down, promising an exciting future for Pokemon fans.