Pokemon Top Toy Property in the World, Surpasses a Billion Dollars in Sales for 2024!

TPCi has published their annual brand report. For the fourth consecutive year, Pokemon is the top toy property in the world. For 2024, Pokemon was also the only toy brand to surpass $1 billion in sales.

This is not the same report as when TPCi publishes how many Pokemon cards were printed last year. That report will come in May. In 2023, Pokemon printed 11.8 billion cards, or 18% of all Pokemon cards ever printed.

Here is their full brand report for 2024:

Brand Highlights & Accolades:

▪ Pokémon has been the global top toy property for four consecutive years.
▪ Pokémon ranked within the top 10 global licensors of 2024, with $10.8 billion in global retail sales in 2023.
▪ More than 480 million units of Pokémon-related software have sold worldwide, making Pokémon one of the most successful gaming franchises of all time.
▪ The mobile game sensation Pokémon GO has received more than one billion downloads globally since launching in July 2016.
▪ The Pokémon TCG is one of the most popular trading card games in the world and has been shipped to 93 countries and regions in 15 languages.
▪ Pokémon animation spans 23 animated movies and two mainline animated series, with content licensed for broadcast and streaming in 192 countries and regions in over 30 languages.

Video Games:

▪ Upcoming Pokémon video games include Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions. Pokémon Legends: Z-A will release on Nintendo Switch in late 2025 and features an exciting new adventure within Lumiose City. Pokémon Champions will focus on core game-style battles playable on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.
▪ Released in November 2022, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are the latest titles in the Pokémon video game series, set in the Paldea region and introducing new Pokémon. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, which includes Part 1: The Teal Mask and Part 2: The Indigo Disk, allows players to delve deeper into the world of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are the seventh bestselling Nintendo Switch titles, with 26.38 million units sold to date.
▪ Additional Pokémon video game titles include Detective Pikachu Returns, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, and New Pokémon Snap.

Mobile Apps:

▪ Pokémon offers a wide breadth of gaming and entertainment experiences on mobile devices, including 16 apps available now around the world, offering something for all types of fans.
▪ Popular mobile games include Pokémon GO, in which players discover and catch Pokémon in the real world, Pokémon UNITE, in which players face off against each other in five-on-five team battles, and Pokémon Masters EX, in which players form teams to engage in real-time battles.

Pokemon Trading Card Game:

▪ The best-selling Pokémon TCG features a robust ecosystem of cross-generational offerings for fans of all types and skill levels — including innovative expansions released throughout the year, learn-to-play products like Battle Academy, beginner-friendly training activations like Play Lab, organized Play! Pokémon events ranging from local competitions to global tournaments, and apps like Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket and Pokémon TCG Live that extend the beloved tabletop game to digital audiences.
▪ The latest Pokémon TCG expansion, Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together, is now available at participating retailers worldwide and reintroduces the Trainer’s Pokémon gameplay mechanic, which showcases the special bond between fan-favorite Pokémon Trainers and their Pokémon. This expansion also marks the first time that the Pokémon TCG is available in Latin American Spanish, signifying the brand’s ongoing efforts to serve the Latin American community.
▪ The upcoming Mega Evolution Series of expansions will begin a new era for the Pokémon TCG, with the highly anticipated return of Mega Evolution Pokémon ex launching later in 2025.
▪ Pokémon TCG products and experiences consistently see success at retail and recognition within the industry. Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket was nominated for Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2024 and has exceeded 100 million downloads on iOS and Android since its global launch in October 2024. In addition, the original version of Battle Academy was recognized by Good Housekeeping’s 2021 Best Toy Awards and awarded Game of the Year at the 2021 Toy of the Year Awards.

Animation & Entertainment:

▪ With two seasons available to watch now, “Pokémon Horizons: The Series” is the current mainline Pokémon animated series that features a new storyline and characters, including dual protagonists Liko and Roy — along with their partner Pokémon — as they journey to uncover the mysteries of the Pokémon world while growing as Trainers. Upon its premiere in March 2024, “Pokémon Horizons: The Series” reached the top 10 TV list in eight countries on Netflix.
▪ The original mainline Pokémon animated series spanned 25 seasons and featured the iconic Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu — some of the most beloved and recognizable figures in pop culture and entertainment. Episodes are available on multiple services such as Netflix, BBC, SuperRTL, Prime Video and the Pokémon TV YouTube channel.
▪ The Pokémon brand regularly delivers animated content that tells unique stories about the Pokémon world, with recent releases including “Pokémon Concierge,” “Pokémon: Paldean Winds,” “Pokémon: Path to the Peak” and more. In addition, TPCi and multi-award-winning independent studio Aardman announced a collaboration to release a special project in 2027.
▪ The Pokémon Company Group’s first-ever live-action Pokémon film, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu,” generated more than $430 million in global box office revenue following its May 2019 worldwide premiere. Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment, the movie featured an all-star cast including Ryan Reynolds.

Pokemon Center:

▪ As the e-commerce arm of TPCi, Pokémon Center is the premier online destination for official Pokémon merchandise in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K., offering high-quality goods that are unique to the site, such as Pokémon TCG products, figures, plush, clothing, accessories, home decor, books and more.
▪ The ecommerce site also features special collaborations with notable brands such as A.P.C., Funko, Bear Walker, PUMA, Fossil, Squishmallows, The Wand Company, Outdoor Research and more.

Licensing & Promotions:

▪ TPCi maintains a robust licensing program — spanning gaming, toys, apparel and accessories, designer collaborations, home decor, publishing and more — which provides global audiences new and unique ways to engage with Pokémon. In addition, the monpoké brand expression offers curated baby and toddler offerings.
▪ In the toy category, TPCi master toy licensee Jazwares (including Squishmallows), as well as licensees Mattel, Funko, Build-A-Bear Workshop™, Hasbro, The Wand Company, Ultra PRO, PowerA, HORI, Ravensburger and more continue to expand their toy and collectible lineups of official Pokémon merchandise appealing to both kids and adults. In addition, TPCi and LEGO Group announced a new multiyear partnership that will bring LEGO® Pokémon™ to fans for the first time in 2026.
▪ In the apparel and accessories category, Pokémon continues its pop culture dominance through partnerships with leading brands like Tiffany & Co., Fendi, A.P.C., 100 Thieves, Santa Cruz Skateboards, ColourPop, Crocs, Bonpoint, Vandy The Pink, The Hundreds, Balmain, Clarks, PUMA, Eastpak and more.
▪ In the household and consumer goods category, Pokémon maintains a ubiquitous presence in homes around the world through longstanding partnerships with trusted names like Thermos, Igloo, Johnson & Johnson, Hallmark, Colgate, Ferrero, Crayola, General Mills, Danone and Mondelēz.
▪ Real-world activations with promotional partners like McDonald’s Global, Overtime and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum bring the Pokémon brand to life with special merchandise and experiences.

Licensing Accolades:

▪ Collectible of the Year, 2023 Toy of the Year Awards (for Squishmallows Pokémon)
▪ Kids’ Choice Junior Award, 2023 Australia Kids’ Choice Awards (for Squishmallows Pokémon)
▪ Best Gaming Licensed Property, 2023 UK Licensing Awards (for Pokémon)
▪ Best Licensed Children’s Apparel or Accessories Range, 2023 UK Licensing Awards (for Clarks × Pokémon collaboration)
▪ Best Collaboration of the Year, 2023 Licensing International France (for Balmain × Pokémon Capsule Collection)
▪ Best Teen Licensing Project, 2023 Bologna Licensing Awards (for Clarks × Pokémon collaboration)
▪ License of the Year Finalist, 2024 Toy of the Year Awards (for Pokémon)

Punishing:

▪ Founded in 2012, Pikachu Press is the in-house publishing imprint from TPCi and delivers exciting titles and formats such as activity, sticker and pop-up books that are perfect for children and young-at-heart Pokémon fans. Recently released Pikachu Press titles include the “Pokémon Primers” series designed for preschoolers, “Pokémon Origami: Fold Your Own Pokémon from Kanto to Paldea” and “Pokémon Official Sticker Book of the Kanto Region: The Original 151.” Upcoming launches include “Pokémon Halloween: Official Sticker Book,” available July 22, 2025, and “Pokémon Epic Sticker Collection 3rd Edition: From Kanto to Paldea,” available Sept. 9, 2025.
▪ TPCi maintains licensed partnerships with Scholastic, DK, HarperCollins, VIZ Media and other publishers to publish award-winning Pokémon titles spanning handbooks, chapter books, manga, cookbooks, crafting titles and more.

Play! Pokemon:

▪ Play! Pokémon events provide opportunities for Pokémon fans to enjoy their favorite games together, from casual Pokémon League gatherings to competitive events.
▪ The Pokémon World Championships is the pinnacle Play! Pokémon event held annually and includes several days of intense matches and friendly competition. The 2024 Pokémon World Championships in Honolulu brought together more than 10,000 players from across the globe to compete in tournaments featuring the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon UNITE and Pokémon GO. The 2025 Pokémon World Championships will take place Aug. 15-17, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif.

I mean, more product means more money. They are definitely incentived to print more, as secondary market prices do nothing for Pokemon's own pockets.
maybe i'm being overly doomer but i feel like artificial scarcity is more profitable for the pokémon tcg

one part of what has made these sets sell out like crazy is the sense of rarity. the idea that "if i can't get it as soon as possible, then i won't be able to get it ever again".

if a set gets overprinted, there's going to be less of an allure for scalpers. which is indisputably a good thing on a human level! but scalpers are unfortunately some of the consumers with the most money to spend. without that allure of artificial rarity, these scalpers won't be fighting each other at costco trying to get their hands on the product. which again, is a GOOD thing for every fan. but if that anti-scalper policy isn't the 100% most profitable method for the company, i'm scared it won't happen & that their public statements are lip service rather than tangible plans for action.
 
> Pokémon TCG products and experiences consistently see success at retail

This is why scalping won’t go away. They simply define it as “success”, disregarding all the shitshow that’s been happening
 
I dont believe this article. Pokemon publishing a report to say they are #1? Seems like a conflict of interest. Pokemon is probably like #420 and not even worth scalping. Stop scalping guys, the fad is over. Stop scalping for sure.
 
I mean, more product means more money. They are definitely incentived to print more, as secondary market prices do nothing for Pokemon's own pockets.
im not talking secondary market - all of their own products have sold out instantly on their direct websites for the last several months. sure they could print more and make even more money, but scalpers will just snatch that up too, and it won’t matter to them either way.

there’s still no incentive to prevent all the many ways these people acquire product to resell, bc that is a part of the market they have nothing to do with. once the product is out of their hands, whether to scalpers or actual players/collectors, what do they care? whether they print ten thousand booster boxes of a set or ten million, they have no reason to care who buys their products or how much they resell it for - they make the money either way
 
I guess on the topic of toys, to this day I still don't know why the Iono/Bellibolt figure on Pokemon Center was always at $329.99. Their other figures normally went for like $120ish, and Leon himself at the same time is $100 less than Iono? Never made sense.

Hey Pokemon, if you wanna increase toy sales might I kindly suggest keeping them under $250 at least lol.
 
Can we redirect any of these profits to improving the video games? No? Can we use it to hire enough people to finish the game and make it run smoothly and look good? Also no? The most profitable franchise and one of the best selling video game series is going to continue to produce horrible quality games while most other developers and publishers continue to improve their products? Got it.