The Pokémon Company has renewed the trademarks for its popular 3DS titles, Pokémon Sun and Moon, nearly a decade after their initial release.  This move, while potentially routine, has sparked discussion amongst fans regarding its implications.

Originally released in 2016, Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced players to the vibrant Alola region, inspired by Hawaii.  These titles introduced regional variants of familiar Pokémon, like Alolan Meowth and Exeggutor, shaking up the established meta with their unique typings and appearances.  The games also debuted Z-Moves, powerful attacks that could only be used once per battle, adding a new layer of strategy to Pokémon battles.

News of the trademark renewal, initially reported by Twitter user Necrolipe via GoNintendo, reveals that the trademarks were jointly renewed by Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and Game Freak, the three entities comprising The Pokémon Company. This occurred on March 26th, shortly after the 2025 Pokémon Day event.

While the renewal could simply be a matter of protecting intellectual property, the timing has led to some speculation.  Trademark renewals are sometimes precursors to game announcements or re-releases. However, it's more likely that this renewal is a preventative measure to maintain control over the Pokémon Sun and Moon branding ahead of any potential expiration dates.

This action follows a recent pattern of Nintendo renewing trademarks for key properties.  In February, Nintendo renewed trademarks for both its iconic Seal of Quality logo and The Legend of Zelda series.  This suggests a broader strategy of safeguarding its intellectual property assets.

Interestingly,  Capcom also recently renewed the Dino Crisis trademark, a franchise dormant for many years. This occurred just two months after a PC port of the original Dino Crisis launched with updated graphics, further fueling speculation about possible revivals of classic game series.

While the renewal of the Pokémon Sun and Moon trademarks has generated excitement, it's important to manage expectations.  While a surprise Nintendo Direct announcement covering various Switch titles is expected soon, it's crucial to remain cautiously optimistic about any major developments related to Pokémon Sun and Moon at this time. The most probable explanation remains the protection of existing intellectual property.