Gotta Catch ’Em All! Pokémon Turns 30 and Still Evolves
The Pokémon franchise celebrates its 30th year with a major announcement: the 10th generation games, Winds and Waves, were revealed during the 30th anniversary livestream by The Pokémon Company.
Set to launch in 2027 on the Nintendo Switch 2, the new games are bringing a huge open world and fresh gameplay to Pokémon fans.
The three starters are already stealing hearts: Browt, a grass-type, is adorably bushy and kind of gives off “wise but sassy” vibes. Pombon, the fiery and fluffy little Pomeranian, has us already hyped for its evolution.
And then there’s Gecqua, the water-type gecko, who’s agile, chill, and low-key serious. Basically the cool, nonchalant pocket monster you can’t help but love.
Pikachu is getting some upgraded customization too, because even our favorite electric buddy deserves a glow-up.
Pokémon began in 1996 with Pokémon Red and Green, a Game Boy role-playing game developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo.
The original 151 Pokémon, including the legendary Mew, captured players’ imaginations and introduced trading mechanics that encouraged social gameplay long before online connectivity became widespread.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game, also launched in 1996, quickly became a global craze.
Rare first-edition cards now sell for thousands of dollars, and organized tournaments continue to draw players of all ages, sustaining the franchise’s relevance decades later.
Back in 1997, the Pokémon anime dropped, and suddenly Ash and Pikachu were everywhere.
This sparked a worldwide Pokémon craze and making the franchise a total cultural icon from the U.S. to Asia.
After 30 years, Pokémon is still as fun as ever.
Its winning combo of exploring new worlds and battling friends has grown and evolved without getting complicated.
From the original 151 Pokémon to over 1,025 today, the franchise keeps surprising us while connecting fans across generations.
With Winds and Waves, Pokémon proves it is not just celebrating its past but preparing for a bold new chapter for trainers worldwide.
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