For more than 27 years, Pokémon has remained one of the most popular and successful entertainment franchises in the world, encompassing video games, mobile apps, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), animation and movies, Play! Pokémon competitive events, publishing, as well as licensed merchandise spanning gaming, toys, apparel and accessories, designer collaborations, home decor, publishing, and more.

Pokémon was the top-selling toy property for all of 2022 in the U.S.1, driven by the popular Pokémon TCG and award-winning licensing programs from The Pokémon Company International (TPCi), which earned the brand the 2022 License of the Year accolade by The Toy Association. TPCi is continuing to expand its consumer products lineup that excites and delights fans around the world and across generations.

BRAND HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 480 million units of Pokémon-related software have sold worldwide, making Pokémon one of the most successful gaming franchises of all time.2
• The mobile game sensation Pokémon GO has received more than one billion downloads globally since launching in July 2016.3
• The Pokémon TCG is one of the most popular trading card games in the world and has been shipped to 89 countries and regions in 14 languages.4
• To date, Pokémon animation spans 23 animated Pokémon movies and two animated series—the current series which follows the iconic Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu in over 1,000 episodes spanning 25 seasons, and the new animated series coming soon around the world in 2023 and beyond. Pokémon animation is licensed for broadcast and streaming in 177 countries and regions in over 30 languages.
• Pokémon global retail sales totaled $8.5 billion in 2021.5

1 The NPD Group, 2022 Toy Industry Performance Awards for the Americas
2 The Pokémon Company, through March 2023
3 Niantic Inc., 2018
4 The Pokémon Company, through March 2023
5 The Pokémon Company, July 2022

Pokémon Play Lab

This year, TPCi is inviting all Sweet Suite attendees to experience Pokémon Play Lab, a fun and engaging guided play experience to teach beginners and casual players how to play the Pokémon TCG. Located in the Terrace at Sweet Suite, Play Lab offers modular experiences at no cost to event attendees, each ranging in duration and play level to suit all Pokémon TCG players. Play experiences at Sweet Suite include:

• Poké Catch: Poké Catch is a fun, new way to play with your favorite Pokémon TCG cards by catching Pokémon. It is a basic teaching tool designed to introduce players to Pokémon and Energy types.
• Catch & Attack: After catching Pokémon in Poké Catch, players will start a battle and learn new play mechanics to get started in their Trainer journey!

Source: https://press.pokemon.com/en/Sweet-Suite-2023/Focus/Pokemon-at-Sweet-Suite-2023-Fact-Sheet-July-2023