As Pokémon Fans Expect a Gen 10 Reveal Next Month, Fat Pikachu Heralds 30th Anniversary Celebrations

The Pokémon franchise has begun its 30th day celebrations with the uncover of a peculiar caller logo, an animation featuring Fat Pikachu, and the committedness of much to stock successful little than 2 months' time.

2026 is the 30th day of Pokémon, which began its way to satellite domination with the Japanese motorboat of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green backmost connected the Game Boy 3 decades ago. (The bid past arrived successful the USA 2 years' later, launching with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue.)

As the timepiece ticked implicit to January 1, 2026 successful Pokémon's location portion of Japan, the marque began its celebrations with the uncover of a caller 30th Anniversary Pokémon logo featuring Pikachu, introduced by nary different than Fat Pikachu — the mascot's acold plumper archetypal plan that's present seldom glimpsed successful authoritative Pokémon media. Here helium is successful action:

ポケモン30周年、はじまる！
『ポケットモンスター 赤・緑』の発売から30年。
2026年2月27日（金）にポケモンは30周年を迎えるよ。
今年は最高の1年になる予感！
お楽しみに！#ポケモン30周年 pic.twitter.com/iPXR83Ib66

"Pokémon 30th Anniversary, Here We Go!" the marque wrote successful a station connected societal media. "30 years since the merchandise of Pokémon Red and Green. On February 27, 2026 (Friday), Pokémon turns 30. We person a feeling this twelvemonth is going to beryllium the champion 1 yet! Look guardant to it!"

Expectations for this year's celebrations are entity high, pursuing past year's alleged Teraleak of Pokémon crippled improvement information that spilled assorted details of the franchise's highly-anticipated 10th procreation of games. Alongside a caller roster of caller creatures, fans expect these titles to diagnostic caller gameplay mechanics and procedurally-generated areas for the archetypal time.

2026 volition besides spot the motorboat of promising-looking Pokémon beingness simulation spin-off Pokémon Pokopia, which arrives exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 connected March 5. A blend of Pokémon characters with gameplay much akin to Animal Crossing, the crippled seems apt to find success.

More details connected each of that are expected to get connected the brand's large 30th anniversary, present little than 2 months' distant connected February 27. While not formally confirmed conscionable yet, this day has present go the yearly day fans expect to beryllium down and ticker a caller Pokémon Presents, the company's Nintendo Direct-style announcements showcase. There's not agelong to spell now.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social