OVERVIEW

In addition to Game Freak's development, Creatures provides support through their Pokémon CG Studio, which creates 3D models for the Pokémon in the games, and also develops some spin-off titles.

In 1998, Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak jointly established The Pokémon Company, which manages licensing, production, publishing, marketing and deals for the franchise both within Asia and worldwide through The Pokémon Company International.

The core games are released in generations, each with different Pokémon, storylines, and characters. Remakes of the games are usually released around a decade after the original versions for the latest console at the time. While the main series consists of RPGs developed by Game Freak, many spin-off games based on the series have been developed by various companies, encompassing other genres such as action role-playing, puzzle, fighting, and digital pet games. The games have been released since 1996 on to present day. You can find the entire timeline of releases below.

1996

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February 27th:

Pocket Monsters Red & Green, the first-ever Pokémon games and the primary games of Generation I, first released in Japan for the Game Boy.
June 23rd:

Nintendo 64 first released in Japan.
October 15th:

Pocket Monsters Blue, upper edition of Pocket Monsters Red & Green, first released in Japan for the Game Boy.
October 20th:

Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) first released.

1997

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March:

Pokémon Adventures manga first released in Japan.
April 1st:

Pocket Monsters, the first Japanese anime series, first aired in Japan with the release of the first episode of the 1st anime season, Pokémon, I Choose You!

1998

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March 27th:

Pocket Pikachu released in Japan.
April 23rd:

Pokémon Center Co. Ltd established.
April 25th:

First ever Pokémon Center, Pokémon Center Tokyo, opened in Tokyo, Japan.
July 18th:

First ever Pokémon movie, Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, first released in Japan.
August 1st:

Pocket Monsters Stadium (Japanese version), a spin-off game, released in Japan.
September 8th:

First English dub anime season, Pokémon: Indigo League, released in North America.
September 12th:

Pokémon Yellow, upper edition of Pocket Monsters Red & Green (1996), first released in Japan for the Game Boy & Game Boy Color.
September 28th:

Pokémon Red and Blue, the international version of Pocket Monsters Red & Green (1996) and the first Pokémon games released internationally, released in North America.
October 21st:

Game Boy Color first released in Japan.
December 12th:

Hey You, Pikachu!, a spin-off game, released in Japan for Nintendo 64.
December 18th:

Pokémon Trading Card Game for Game Boy released.

1999

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January 21st:

Super Smash Bros. 64, crossover game, first released in Japan for Nintendo 64.
January 28th:

Pocket Monsters Episode: Orange Islands Adventures first aired in Japan.
March 21st:

Pokémon Snap, a spin-off photography game, first released in Japan.
April 14th:

Pokémon Pinball, a spin-off game, first released in Japan.
April 30th:

Pokémon Stadium (known in Japan as Pokémon Stadium 2), a spin-off game, first released in Japan.
July 17th:

Second Pokémon movie, Pokémon The Movie 2000: The Power of One, first released in Japan.
October 7th:

Softx changed its name to TV Tokyo MediaNet.
October 14th:

Pocket Monsters Episode: Gold and Silver first aired in Japan.
November 21st:

Pokémon Gold and Silver, primary games of Generation II, first released in Japan for the Game Boy Color.
December 4th:

Second English dub anime season, Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands, released in the United States.