Overview
- The Pokémon Company announced new mainline entries Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Welle for Nintendo Switch 2 with a planned 2027 release, introducing a new starter trio: Braubel (Grass), Pomfifi (Fire) and Gekkua (Water).
- Trading cards continue to surge in value with headline‑making record auctions this year, drawing adult collectors who routinely spend hundreds to thousands of euros and fueling packed conventions.
- The card frenzy has brought side effects including counterfeits, unfair trades and schoolyard disputes, prompting some schools to restrict or ban on‑campus trading.
- Analyses reported by ZDFheute cite the German Federal Statistical Office ranking Pokémon as the top revenue‑generating media franchise, ahead of Hello Kitty, Star Wars and Mickey Mouse.
- Industry reporting estimates lifetime revenue around $100–150 billion led by licensing and merchandise, and tagesschau notes Pokémon posted roughly $400 million in net profit in 2024.