There are no immediate plans for Pokémon TCG Pocket to emerge as the next big genre in the competitive scene, Pokémon’s director of global esports & events, Chris Brown, revealed.
Pokémon TCG Pocket has exploded in popularity since it was released in October 2024, and while the game offers a competitive approach with battles against other players across the world, there are currently no plans to provide an official esports scene for the title.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Will Remain a Side Event at Competitive Tournaments
Speaking to Insider Gaming and other media outlets at Pokémon EUIC in London, Brown said the current approach for TCG Pocket “feels great” currently, and while there are discussions to improve the overall experience for Pocket players, this doesn’t include adding the game to the competitive schedule.
“With Pocket, what feels great for us right now is the Side Events, a casual way for people to meet up,” Brown said.
“We are talking through things like how we can encourage trading, we want to support the Pocket community at the shows, but there are no plans for it to be a main title.”
Pokémon currently has four genres available to competitive players, including the main TCG, Pokémon Go, Pokémon Unite, and VGC, the latter of which is currently played on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but will be moved to the upcoming Pokémon Champions for Worlds in San Francisco.
No release date has been revealed for Pokémon Champions yet, but a slew of Pokémon news is expected next week to mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
Do you want to see Pokémon TCG Pocket become an official Esport? Share your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Pokémon, take a look at our hands-on preview of Pokopia, and check out all the winners at the Pokémon EUIC in London.
