As February marksPokemon’s 25th anniversary, and with the recent McDonald’s Happy Meal tie-in, there has been a clear increase in the franchise’s already popular presence. In fact, Twitch metrics show thePokemontrading card category has seen an increase of over 3000% in monthly viewership.
Twitch is home to some of themost popular video game streamersaround the world, and is largely considered the go-to place for fans and streamers alike to watch and discuss their favorite games. In previous years, card games were not a very popular category on the platform, but thePokemon Trading Card Gameis quickly changing that.
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ThePokemon TCG’s3000%+ viewership increase on Twitch occurred from March 2020 to January 2021, and is now the second most popularPokemoncategory on the platform, behindPokemon SwordandShield. The category sees popular Twitch streamers like Islandgrown and FireDragon opening new and vintage packs ofPokemoncards and reacting to the treasures or disappointments that are held within. While rarePokemoncards can be insanely expensive, vintage decks can cost a pretty penny as well, so the fun of the broadcasts often comes from seeing whether the streamer is rewarded or punished after paying big bucks for a vintage deck.
Still, it’s no surprise thatPokemon SwordandShieldremains a more popular Twitch category than the trading card game.Pokemon SwordandShieldstill receives frequent updates, and are the most recent video games released in thePokemonuniverse. However, givenSwordandShield’s relative recentness and frequent updates, it becomes all the more impressive that a 25 year old card game could rise to the 2nd most popularPokemoncategory so quickly.
Of course,Pokemoncards are still made today, and with the McDonald’s Happy MealPokemoncards in high demand, the Twitch broadcasts don’t focus solely on the vintage decks. Many broadcasts see the streamers hoping for more modernPokemoncards like last year’s Zacian V card as well as working toward the goal of obtainingall of the new McDonald’sPokemoncards.
The trading card game aside, there are a lot of things happening in the world ofPokemonfor the franchise’s 25th anniversary. A newPokemon Snapgame is cominglater this year, and anniversary tie-in products from clothing lines to skateboards are planned. Fans who prefer the classic card game, however, need look no further than Twitch to celebrate the iconicPokemonseries' 25th anniversary.
