Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company, has revealed that his plans for the future of the Pokémon franchise revolve around exploring new technologies and making fun games. In an interview with Apple’s App Store, Ishihara spoke about several things, from the success of the original Pokémon Red and Blue that would spark the birth of a franchise, to how augmented reality technology might provide new and novel experiences.
Discussing the first entries in the storied franchise, he said that Red and Blue’s Kanto region’s similarity to real-world Japan was based on the idea of making an adventure close to a player’s own life. “I’ve always believed connecting the world of Pokémon with the real world brings even more exciting possibilities,” he said. “And for many players, the game experience connects to real-life experiences, such as catching insects, fishing, raising animals, or growing plants.”
Speaking about new technologies, Ishihara discussed the possibility of a world where Pikachu “could jump onto the table right in front of you.” Discussing augmented reality (AR) tech, he acknowledged that, while novel, the concept might become boring after a while. “I feel that people would find it more fun to walk around the real world, work up a sweat, or take a walk with a Pokémon that has a mind of its own.”
As for what the future might hold for Pokémon, he acknowledged that his answer of wanting to “keep making fun games” might be broad. However, he noted that the success of the series comes down to people enjoying the games.
“I believe what we must continue to do is keep making fun games,” he said. “It might sound broad, but it all comes down to whether people play our games and find them enjoyable; that’s not something we can dictate. Sustaining that is what’s important, and it’s OK if everything else changes.”
Ishihara’s statement comes just days after The Pokémon Company, along with Nintendo, unveiled the next pair of mainline entries in the franchise – Pokémon Winds and Waves. Slated for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, the games were unveiled with a trailer showcasing a world that features a variety of different biomes, like forests and beaches, as well as a new trio of starter Pokémon: Browt, Pombon and Gecqua.
The official website for Pokémon Winds and Waves has also confirmed that the upcoming titles will be open-world, with descriptions mentioning islands along with a “vast ocean”. Thanks to this more open structure, players will also get to find Pokémon living alongside their environments, with unique ecosystems having developed between them.
In the meantime, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen have recently been released on Nintendo Switch for $20 each. The titles are Game Boy Advance remakes of the first generation of Pokémon games, which were originally released on Game Boy all the way back in 1996.
As for other Pokémon games in development, take a look at the latest gameplay trailer for Pokémon Pokopia.
