As Pokemon has grown into one of the biggest video game franchises in the world, both the franchise's mainline series of RPG games and its numerous spinoffs have fostered a passionate competitive community. Pokemon GO previously announced the mobile game will be hosting its first ever Pokemon GO Championship Series in 2022, and the Pokemon Trading Card Game has become one of the most widely recognized TCGs in the world alongside games like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering. Now, The Pokemon Company has officially revealed Pokken Tournament is saying goodbye to the competitive circuit.While the popularity of Pokken Tournament, the Pokemon franchise's first foray into fighting games, has dwindled since Pokken Tournament DX hit the Switch in 2017, the game has remained a popular niche title for many fans of Pokemon and fighting games. Pokken Tournament didn't see the same kind of widespread success as its Nintendo fighting game contemporary Super Smash Bros, but was a popular title early on in the Switch's life. With no update on the future of the fighting game spinoff in several years, seeing its last new character in 2018, Pokemon officially announced the end of Pokken Tournament in the "Play Pokemon" program.The official Twitter account for Pokemon's "Play Pokemon" competitive circuit made the announcement late last week, confirming that Pokken Tournament would not be returning with the program following the conclusion of the 2022 season. The Pokemon Company thanked the game's passionate fanbase for supporting both the fighting game spinoff and its competitive scene throughout the years accompanied by a GIF featuring many iconic moments from past tournaments. Pokken Tournament's final event is currently set for the 2022 World Championships later this year.
While many fans will be saddened by the departure of Pokken Tournament from the competitive Pokemon circuit, both Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have remained quiet about the future of the fighting game franchise. Pokken Tournament producer Katsuhiro Harada said last year he would be open to a Pokken Tournament sequel, though no official confirmation of a follow-up has been made by either of the game's creators.
Though fans may never see a follow-up to the popular Pokemon fighting game, the franchise recently celebrating its 25th anniversary has seen a slew of major releases over the past year as well as high-profile announcements. Last year saw the release of New Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Unite, and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, while 2022 has already started off with a bang with the massive success of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and the reveal of Pokemon's ninth generation with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. While Pokken Tournament's future is uncertain, the Pokemon franchise as a whole continues to thrive.
Pokken Tournament DX is available now for Nintendo Switch.
