Pokemon fans hoping for a chance to hold a Pokemon-themed Squishmallows stuffed toy of their very own were dealt a blow recently when it appeared the item had been recalled from Walmart shelves, but it turns out that isn't the case. The popular stuffed toy will soon be affordably available to eager Pokemon fans at Walmart locations everywhere.
Squishmallows are a popular stuffed toy originally produced by Kelly Toys (which was purchased by JazWares in 2020) that has partnered with various major brands to create themed toys. The Pokemon Squishmallows launched in 2022. Available at the official Pokemon Center website for around $30 each, the 12-inch toys were limited to one per person (in a likely attempt to prevent resellers from collecting them all, though that is a tall order these days). A first series of Pokemon toys consisted of Pikachu and Gengar, with others such as Snorlax due to follow in subsequent runs sometime this year.
Pokemon Squishmallows briefly made a surprise appearance at some Walmart locations earlier this month, but then they disappeared and some Walmart workers told consumers the Pokemon Squishmallows had been recalled. JazWares has since revealed the toys have not been recalled for safety reasons, as initially believed, but had simply been made available for sale prematurely. The toys will return to stores this February, as originally planned. They may show as recalled in retail systems to prevent employees from accidentally putting the toys back on the sales floor ahead of their planned release date.
Stores have been known to break what is known as a "street date" for products of all sorts. Some stores famously put Harry Potter books on shelves ahead of their designated release date, for instance. Similar events occur even with video games, like when a Walmart sold Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot before the game's official release. Employees try to be vigilant, but they deal with a high enough volume of products across enough locations that sometimes high-profile mistakes will still occur.
Even before Pokemon Squishmallows became available, the demand for such products had become apparent. Pokemon plushies that resemble Squishmallows were made available on the Pokemon Center site in 2021, modeled after Pikachu, Ditto, Jigglypuff, Oddish, and Wooloo. They arrived a half-year before Squishmallows, selling out quickly and providing proof (if it was needed) that fans would be happy to cuddle with dolls based on their favorite Pokemon. Now, fans anxious to get their hands on Pokemon Squishmallows in February should set aside $15 to $17 and watch local Walmart stores closely. The moment draws nigh.
Source: Polygon
