[REVISION HISTORY]

Pokémon 30th anniversary drives events, market shifts

Updated 9 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-19 21:30 UTC → 2026-08-21 01:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 30th-anniversary surge continues to reshape the Pokémon ecosystem through expanding product lines and high-value market activity. As the September 16 global release of the ‘30th Celebration’ expansion approaches, ~~new card reveals have showcased illustration rare variants of Meowth and Alolan Meowth. Rumors~~ rumors have ~~also surfaced~~ intensified regarding a highly rare ‘Ultra Rare RGB’ Mew ~~card, which allegedly features~~ card. Allegedly featuring monochromatic red, blue, and green variations to honor the original Red, Blue, and Green ~~games; some~~ games, reports from a purported source at Millennium Print Group suggest a rarity of approximately 1 in 20,000 packs. While The Pokémon Company has not officially confirmed these versions, community reaction remains mixed, with some collectors excited by the rarity and others criticizing the aesthetic design or fearing increased scalping. Merchandise offerings are also expanding. The Pokémon Company announced an exclusive collection of 27 commemorative figurines, including thirteen different Pikachu models inspired by special TCG card illustrations and a Charizard modeled after the original 1999 Base Set card. This collection is scheduled for launch in China on September 16, though availability for European collectors remains uncertain. In Japan, the anniversary is being marked by diverse merchandise, including a comprehensive official encyclopedia of 1,025 Pokémon and a three-volume visual art book due in December 2026. Premium Bandai has also announced reservations for a ‘Pokémon Kids 30th Anniversary Edition’ soft vinyl figure ~~set, which utilizes retro-inspired packaging designed to resemble a Game Boy.~~ set. Retailers continue to manage high demand through specialized sales ~~methods. In Japan, the Pokémon Center Online is hosting~~ methods, such as lottery sales ~~for expansion packs and premium deck sets. This follows earlier trends of rising card values, which have triggered thefts at UK specialty shops and spurred significant scalping~~ in ~~the U.S. market. Nintendo has previously announced stricter purchase-limit rules~~ Japan, to mitigate ~~these~~ market ~~shifts.~~ shifts including rising card values and theft.

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