POKÉMON CONTINUES TO EVOLVE WITH NEW GAME EXPERIENCES, ENTERTAINMENT, AND PRODUCTS REVEALED FOR 2023 ON POKÉMON DAY

The Pokémon Company |

London, United Kingdom — February 27, 2023 — Today, on Pokémon Day, the annual fan-focused, pop-culture holiday celebrating the launch of the original Pokémon video games on February 27, 1996, a special Pokémon Presents video presentation was streamed online to fans around the world. During the presentation, The Pokémon Company group announced new experiences coming to the globally popular entertainment franchise in 2023. Highlights included the reveal of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, new DLC for the blockbuster Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games; Pokémon Concierge, a new stop-motion Netflix series; Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic, a premium Pokémon TCG set; a much-anticipated update about Pokémon Sleep; the Pokémon GO Plus + device; newly discovered Pokémon; multiple in-game events for current titles; and more.
 
Additionally, in celebration of Pokémon’s global fanbase on Pokémon Day, The Pokémon Company International revealed a digital mosaic in the style of the iconic Poké Ball. The mosaic is composed of photos and videos submitted by fans showcasing their passion for Pokémon as part of a full-year brand campaign inviting them to “Pokémon Together.”
 
              “Pokémon Day is the most exciting day of the year for Trainers, and we’re honored to ‘Celebrate Pokémon Together’ with them by revealing what’s next for the ever-evolving franchise,” said Kenji Okubo, president of The Pokémon Company International. “As we invite fans to ‘Pokémon Together’ in 2023, these new experiences across the brand reflect the growing world of Pokémon and the many ways it continues to connect and bring joy to people of all ages around the world.”
 
Details for all the initiatives revealed in the Pokémon Presents are below.
 
NEW GAME EXPERIENCES, ENTERTAINMENT, AND PRODUCTS:
 
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: Downloadable Content for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
Global sales of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet for the Nintendo Switch family of systems surpassed 10 million combined units in the first three days after their worldwide launch on November 18, 2022—the highest global sales for any software on any Nintendo platform in that same timeframe. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero will take fans deeper into the world of Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet with two different adventures—Part 1: The Teal Mask, launching in fall 2023, and Part 2: The Indigo Disk, releasing at a later date. Fans can purchase The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero now on Nintendo eShop[1].
 
“We are so grateful that millions of Trainers around the world have chosen to explore the expansive Paldea region,” said Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company. “In The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, fans will take a trip to the land of Kitakami where they will meet new Pokémon and interesting characters. I sincerely hope that Trainers who embark on this new journey find the same excitement and joy they experienced when they encountered their first Pokémon.”
 
Players can use their current save data from Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet to continue their adventure in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.[2] In this new downloadable content, players will be leaving the Paldea region, the setting of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. In Part 1: The Teal Mask, a school trip will take players to the land of Kitakami, where they will be joining an outdoors study program held jointly between their academy and another school. In Part 2: The Indigo Disk, players will be traveling to Blueberry Academy, a sister school of their own academy, as exchange students. While this tale is split into two parts, they link together to tell a connected story.​
 
In Part 1: The Teal Mask, players will be chosen to take part in a school trip that is held each year in collaboration with another school. They’ll be taken to the land of Kitakami, where a great mountain towers over the land and the people live at its base. It is a place of tranquil natural expanses, featuring rice paddies and apple orchards. The trip seems to coincide with a festival regularly held in the village in Kitakami during this season, so the village is bustling with various street vendors and stalls. Players will meet new friends and Pokémon as they unravel the mysteries behind the folktales that have been passed down in this land.​
 
In Part 1: The Teal Mask and Part 2: The Indigo Disk, players will be able to encounter over 230 familiar Pokémon that have been found living in other regions but had not appeared in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. This includes Pokémon that players will be able to bring to their games via Pokémon HOME or those received in trades.[3]​ Players will also encounter new Legendary Pokémon – Ogerpon in Part 1: The Teal Mask, and Terapagos in Part 2: The Indigo Disk. In Part 1: The Teal Mask, three Pokémon named Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti also appear. They are beloved by the people of the village as heroes that protected the land of Kitakami in the past and stone statues were made in their likeness to express the people’s gratitude. ​
 
Players who purchase The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero by Tuesday, October 31, 2023, will be given a serial code for a special gift: a Hisuian Zoroark with three special features.[4]​ This Hisuian Zoroark knows the move Happy Hour, which it cannot learn through normal gameplay, along with Tera Blast, Bitter Malice, and Nasty Plot.​ It has the Charismatic Mark and it has Dark as its Tera Type. The serial code will be valid until Thursday, February 29, 2024.
​
For more information about The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, please visit Pokemon.com/ScarletViolet.
 
Pokémon Concierge
Growing its diverse lineup of entertainment offerings, The Pokémon Company, in partnership with Netflix, unveiled a brand-new series titled Pokémon Concierge, which expands the Pokémon world with a new storyline and innovative stop-motion animation. Developed in collaboration with dwarf studios, Pokémon Concierge will be set at the Pokémon Resort and follows the story of a concierge named Haru and the many Pokémon that visit as guests. Fans can catch a first glimpse of the new series with the teaser trailer that was also revealed today. For more information about Pokémon Concierge, please visit the Netflix Newsroom.
 
Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic
Created as a collaboration among The Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc., and design firm nendo, Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic is a premium Pokémon TCG set that is designed to last a lifetime. Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic contains everything fans need to play the Pokémon TCG, including preconstructed decks and gameplay accessories—all of which have been uniquely designed to be both beautiful and functional to deliver a polished battling experience.[5]
 
Pokémon Sleep and Pokémon GO Plus +
First announced in May 2019, Pokémon Sleep aims to offer a fun and enriching experience to Trainers by having a player’s time spent sleeping—and the time they wake up—affect the gameplay. Today it was announced that Pokémon Sleep is slated to launch in summer 2023 for iOS and Android devices. Fans will join Professor Neroli—who studies Pokémon sleep styles—and Snorlax, to carry out research into how Pokémon sleep.
 
The Pokémon GO Plus + uses Bluetooth® Low Energy technology to link with smartphone apps for use in Pokémon GO and Pokémon Sleep gameplay. For Pokémon GO, the Pokémon GO Plus + enables players to throw Poké Balls automatically. Pokémon Sleep players can use the device to track their sleep in conjunction with their smartphones. The Pokémon GO Plus + will be available on July 21, 2023.
 
More information about Pokémon Sleep and Pokémon GO Plus + can be found here.
 
IN-GAME EVENTS:
 
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
From Monday, February 27, to Sunday, March 12, 2023, a Tera Raid Battle event will take place in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Trainers will encounter two newly discovered Paradox Pokémon: Walking Wake in Pokémon Scarlet and Iron Leaves in Pokémon Violet. For full details about these new Pokémon and the in-game event, please visit Pokemon.com/ScarletViolet.
 
Pokémon GO
Starting at 3:00 p.m. GMT on Monday, February 27, 2023, Trainers will be able to connect Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet to Pokémon GO. New gameplay experiences will be available in each game after they’ve been connected, including new ways to interact with Vivillon and Roaming Form Gimmighoul. To learn more about these updates, please visit Pokemon.com.
 
Pokémon UNITE
In celebration of Pokémon Day, the Legendary Pokémon Zacian will join the fray in Pokémon UNITE. From Monday, February 27, at 4:00 a.m. GMT to Monday, March 27, at 00:59 a.m. GMT, players can roll dice they receive by logging in (and through other means) to advance squares on a board. They can earn adventure coins by completing missions on each square and then exchange them for Zacian’s Unite license.​ To commemorate Pokémon Day, players can use a gift code (POKEMONDAY) to get a gold Zacian Pokémon boost emblem, which has useful effects in battle. More information about this event can be found here.
 
Pokémon Café ReMix
Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly have just arrived from the Paldea region to join Pokémon Café ReMix. Players can choose one of the three to join their staff if they play the event that’s now under way. A new dish, Paldea plate, inspired by Paldea Pokémon, will also appear. The Welcome from Paldea event will take place from Monday, February 27, to Friday, March 17, 2023.
 
Pokémon Masters EX
Trainers can celebrate Pokémon Day and Pokémon Masters EX’s 3.5 Year Anniversary with special log-in bonuses and new master sync pairs. Those who log in today will receive 3,000 gems as a celebratory gift. Trainers can also log in throughout the coming weeks to claim additional bonuses, such as a 5★ Champion Select Scout Ticket and 10-Pair Scout Tickets.
 
COMPETITIVE LIVE EVENTS:
 
2023 Pokémon World Championships
The 2023 Pokémon World Championships will be hosted in Japan for the first time ever, taking place at the PACIFICO Yokohama. Today, The Pokémon Company International announced the dates of the event, August 11–13, and revealed special artwork that Trainers can look forward to seeing thematically included across all touchpoints of the massive competitive event. Participants will battle in the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE for the title of World Champion.

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About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

About Nintendo
Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario™, Donkey Kong™, The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Pokémon™, Animal Crossing™, Pikmin™ and Splatoon™, through its integrated hardware and software products. Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks. Nintendo has sold more than 5.4 billion video games and over 800 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Frankfurt, Germany, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe. For more information about Nintendo of Europe, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo-europe.com/

About Niantic, Inc.
Niantic, Inc. builds real-world experiences that foster fun, exploration, discovery and social interaction. Originally incubated within Google, Niantic was founded by John Hanke, who previously helmed the Google Geo team (including Google Maps and Google Earth) after his start-up Keyhole was acquired by Google. The company’s real-world adventure game Ingress has been downloaded more than 14 million times and is played in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. For more information on Niantic, please visit www.nianticlabs.com

About Tencent Games
Tencent Games was launched in 2003 and has since grown into the leading global platform for game development, publishing and operations, as well as the operator of the largest online game community in China. It is dedicated to offering engaging, high-quality, interactive entertainment experiences for all players. Tencent Games currently offers more than 140 self-developed and licensed games across 200 countries and regions, which provides hundreds of millions of users with cross-platform interactive entertainment experiences. Honor of Kings, PUBG MOBILE and League of Legends are some of the most popular titles around the world. We are committed to exploring the full potential of games, leveraging the rich IP resources within Tencent, spanning literature, anime, film, and television, to create high-quality interactive entertainment experiences. Furthermore, Tencent Games actively collaborates with overseas game publishers, such as SEA, Netmarble, Supercell and more, to form strategic partnerships and launch new games.

About Netflix:
Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with 231 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

[1] To purchase The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero from the in-game menu, players must have updated their Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game to version 1.2.0 or higher.​

[2] To begin the main story of Part 1: The Teal Mask, players will need to have begun their Treasure Hunt in Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. The start of the Treasure Hunt occurs after about three hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary. To begin the main story of Part 2: The Indigo Disk, players will need to have reached the ending of their Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game and completed the main story of Part 1: The Teal Mask.​

[3] Please see here for a list of other titles compatible with Pokémon HOME. The Pokémon players will be able transfer to each game via Pokémon HOME are limited to Pokémon that can appear in those games.

[4] Players may be able to get Hisuian Zoroark in different ways in the future.​ Players will need to connect to their Nintendo Switch system to the internet to claim this early-purchase bonus.​ The user profile on a player’s system will need to be linked to a Nintendo Account to connect to the internet. (This does not require a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership).​ Players can use the serial code for this bonus only once. After they’ve used the code to claim their gift, the player will not be able to use the same code in another save file.​ It takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay before players can access the Mystery Gift feature and use serial codes.​

[5] Currently available in English only.