Series: Pokémon History · Part 3/3
💰 Pokémon Today – The Highest-Grossing Franchise & What It Means for Collectors
Today, Pokémon is no longer "just a popular game and show." By available estimates, it's the highest-grossing media franchise in the world, surpassing even Star Wars and Marvel.
Pokémon GO & the Second Wave of Hype
Summer 2016 brought Pokémon GO, Niantic's mobile game using GPS and augmented reality. Suddenly people were running around cities, catching Pokémon in parks and at landmarks. The game generated hundreds of millions of dollars in its first months.
For the brand, this meant: reaching new casual gamers, the return of '90s fans, and further mainstream IP awareness.
For the brand, this meant: reaching new casual gamers, the return of '90s fans, and further mainstream IP awareness.
Pokémon Card Boom During the Pandemic
The next major turning point came around 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. People spent more time at home, sought new hobbies, and childhood nostalgia played a huge role. Pokémon TCG experienced a dramatic surge in interest, amplified by major influencers.
The result: massive price fluctuations, product shortages in stores, and grading companies (PSA, BGS, CGC) overwhelmed.
The result: massive price fluctuations, product shortages in stores, and grading companies (PSA, BGS, CGC) overwhelmed.
Pokémon as the Highest-Grossing IP
Long-term estimates suggest the Pokémon brand has generated over $150 billion across all media – video games, cards, anime, films, toys, clothing, and other merchandise. This places it first, ahead of Hello Kitty, Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney Princesses.
What This Means for Collectors on Pokéista
- Each edition on Pokéista comes with historical context. → Editions overview
- History articles are linked to specific edition overviews, ETBs, and boosters. → ETB ranking · Booster box ranking
- Want to experience the Pokémania or pandemic boom era? → Complete Sword & Shield Guide