{"id":25288,"date":"2026-01-03T00:34:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25288"},"modified":"2026-01-03T00:34:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:34:40","slug":"as-pokemon-fans-expect-a-gen-10-reveal-next-month-fat-pikachu-heralds-30th-anniversary-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25288","title":{"rendered":"As Pok\u00e9mon Fans Expect a Gen 10 Reveal Next Month, Fat Pikachu Heralds 30th Anniversary Celebrations"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Pok\u00e9mon franchise has begun its 30th anniversary celebrations with the reveal of a special new logo, an animation featuring Fat Pikachu, and the promise of more to share in less than two months’ time.<\/p>\n

2026 is the 30th anniversary of Pok\u00e9mon, which began its path to world domination with the Japanese launch of Pok\u00e9mon Red and Pok\u00e9mon Green back on the Game Boy three decades ago. (The series then arrived in the USA two years’ later, launching with Pok\u00e9mon Red and Pok\u00e9mon Blue.)<\/p>\n

As the clock ticked over to January 1, 2026 in Pok\u00e9mon’s home region of Japan, the brand began its celebrations with the reveal of a new 30th Anniversary Pok\u00e9mon logo featuring Pikachu, introduced by none other than Fat Pikachu \u2014 the mascot’s far plumper original design that’s now rarely glimpsed in official Pok\u00e9mon media. Here he is in action:<\/p>\n

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2026\u5e742\u670827\u65e5\uff08\u91d1\uff09\u306b\u30dd\u30b1\u30e2\u30f3\u306f30\u5468\u5e74\u3092\u8fce\u3048\u308b\u3088\u3002
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\u304a\u697d\u3057\u307f\u306b\uff01#\u30dd\u30b1\u30e2\u30f330\u5468\u5e74<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iPXR83Ib66<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u30dd\u30b1\u30e2\u30f3\u516c\u5f0f (@Pokemon_cojp) December 31, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“Pok\u00e9mon 30th Anniversary, Here We Go!” the brand wrote in a post on social media. “30 years since the release of Pok\u00e9mon Red and Green. On February 27, 2026 (Friday), Pok\u00e9mon turns 30. We have a feeling this year is going to be the best one yet! Look forward to it!”<\/p>\n

Expectations for this year’s celebrations are sky high, following last year’s so-called Teraleak of Pok\u00e9mon game development data that spilled various details of the franchise’s highly-anticipated 10th generation of games. Alongside a fresh roster of new creatures, fans expect these titles to feature new gameplay mechanics and procedurally-generated areas for the first time.<\/p>\n

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2026 will also see the launch of promising-looking Pok\u00e9mon life simulation spin-off Pok\u00e9mon Pokopia, which arrives exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5. A blend of Pok\u00e9mon characters with gameplay more similar to Animal Crossing, the game seems likely to find success.<\/p>\n

More details on all of that are expected to arrive on the brand’s big 30th anniversary, now less than two months’ away on February 27. While not formally confirmed just yet, this date has now become the annual date fans expect to sit down and watch a new Pok\u00e9mon Presents, the company’s Nintendo Direct-style announcements showcase. There’s not long to go now.<\/p>\n

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky <\/em>@tomphillipseg.bsky.social<\/p>\n<\/div>\n