2016 marked the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, and what a celebration it was. From two new main series Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS – Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon – as well as the release of the augmented reality game Pokémon GO, the Pokémon franchise had a good year. Just how good?
The Pokémon Company, a joint company of Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures created to handle Pokémon licensing, has revealed to License Global its 2016 retail revenue. The Pokémon Company reportedly brought in $3.3 billion in retail revenue, placing 19th in the world. This is an increase from 2015, during which The Pokémon Company had only $2.1 billion in retail revenue and placed 29th in the world.
Pokémon enjoyed an incredibly strong year at retail in 2016, which marked the brand's 20th anniversary. The milestone, which recognized the first introduction of Pokémon video games 20 years ago, catapulted the perennially popular brand into the global spotlight and kicked off with the first-ever Pokémon Super Bowl commercial. The company also introduced the mobile game "Pokémon Go," which became a global phenomenon and was downloaded 650 million times. Pokémon followed this success with "Pokémon Sun" and "Pokémon Moon" for the Nintendo 3DS, which became the third best-selling Nintendo 3DS titles of all time, adding to the 280 million Pokémon video games already sold.
Drop us a comment telling us what you enjoyed most about the 20th anniversary of Pokémon!
[source images2.advanstar.com]
Comments 36
Nice! Come on Nintendo shares!
I don't ask for much, can I have just .1% of that......PLEASE!
Pokemon used Pay Day AND Happy Hour! The coins are everywhere!
Thats enough to buy a bike in the red and blue games.
Well, this goes to show the power of a franchise like Pokemon in a F2P environment. Pokémon Go's never been my cup of tea but I'm glad it's paying up.
Shame Sun/Moon have been the weakest main series pokemon games since some of the weaker DS entries. Not bad, just felt like a large number of steps back from X/Y/OR/AS
Cool...
So Pokémon Stars Z for Switch announcement at E3?
Meanwhile back at the pokemon company...
@Menchi187 I actually found Sun/Moon to be leagues better than any of the 3ds games but I guess different people look for different things in a game.
@Roam85 You mean Pokémon Grayztars.
@Menchi187 Weak? Sun/Moon are the strongest Pokemon games in some time. Better characters/character design, better story, all around just better.
It kind of annoys me how despite making so much money and being so popular, the Pokémon company (or whatever) keeps making such average and meh games. I expect more from them.
@Menchi187 So in what kinda way did SM feel like a step back to you? Not to critize your opinion whatsoever, I'm simply curious as you don't come across many people of your mindset in regards to these games. Personally, I feel like SM made the biggest steps forwards in the franchise's history (while doing a huge step back when it comes to the online ordeal).
@-Green- Well, it's because most of the people don't find those games "meh" that they have so much money and are so popular, not the other way around.
Hooray! That's more than enough to develop Pokken 2 for Switch right?
They'll probably double that when the 700 amiibo release. They have to run of of different poses for Link eventually and move on to Pokemon.
@xPH03N1Xx86 I disagree, miss the gyms and the trial mini games are annoying. And there's to much dialogue. Just let me catch them all and be the best that no one ever was!
So the pokemon company is the 19th richest company in the world? Wow.
@Ogbert I second that! Your lips to Pokemon Co/Game Freak etc's ears.
@roy130390 Of course, which is a shame.
@-Green- Don't get me wrong, I'm always in for huge improvements, but the pokemon series is one of the franchises that I consider that it improves it's formula just enough while keeping what defines them.I think the pokemon games are not only solid, but great in their area and that they have little to no competition. There's no other rpg game with such a complex and diverse competitive scene and it takes them a while to deliver each game, so they actually take their time. The balance between being innovative without feeling like they are changing too much and being faithful to what's a pokemon game without feeling stale is quite delicate, I mean, I've heard people say that the Pokemon Sun and Moon games fel no longer like pokemon.
Maybe they just aren't for you, or at least not good enough for you to buy each entry. I normally wait for another entry when I feel that they haven't improved that much from the previous one, and it has worked great for me.
@roy130390 I feel like I've just gotten a bit bummed out with Pokemon. I have, similar to you I'd imagine, been playing the games since the very first one and I guess it's just I've grown a tad upset with them. I do like Pokemon, just some parts of it really bug me.
Woah, but I believe it.
19th in the world, congratulations are in order!
It feels good being a Nintendo shareholder in times like this, can't wait for Nintendo's financial report next week
That's great news especially as Nintendo own 1/3rd of the Pokemon company, now let's hope those stars rumours are true, would love to play a switch version of Sun/Moon
I personally don't care for Pokémon. But congrats on all the success!
Announce Pokémon Stars at E3!
More like Gotta cash em all!
Congrats !
Now, can they make proper Pokemon games with Open World style, Dynamic Camera Angle, Full HD rendering and mini games inside ?
It will Super Duper Effective !
They can make a billion more (and sell some Switches in the process) if they ported Sun/Moon to Switch while we wait for the next true instalment in the series.
Remember back in the 90s when everyone said Pokemon was just a fad?
i am still playing Sun en must say its definitly a step forward for the series design wise but for me, i still rather have gym leaders. I hope that the next game is another red and blue remake with the same trainers, optional to costumize them but with a much more detailed storyline about team rocket and also the legendaries and the gym leaders also shine more. Pokemon already has very rich characters but their story arcs are always so limited or none at all and this is something tham SM did better overall
I almost got into a serious fight with some guy, we had our game on. Then one of his friends came out of nowhere and yelled "There's a [some rare Pokemon] sighted in [some place nearby]. He made a beeline towards the place. I just stood there dumbfounded.
Pity that revenue increase is almost certainty going to be a one-off...
Add what does "19th" refer to? Maybe results in Japan, or listed Japanese companies? Because it's certainly not worldwide, not even close.
@LemonSlice that sounds like me, only I'm a girl.
@Phle Don't worry, I don't fight girls.
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