Big things are in the works for Pokémon and its fans. For plushy lovers, Pikachu is coming to Build-A-Bear Workshops in 2016. On Oct. 20, 2015, the Pokémon Company International (Pokémon Company) announced a partnership with Build-A-Bear Workshops in order to help advertise and promote the sales of both companies.
While the Pokémon Company is given an advertising benefit, this is also a chance for Build-A-Bear Workshop to sell a famed character and potentially draw in some of the older generations. Customers can choose to either make their own plush toy or order a pre-made Pikachu plush online. Building an original plush includes the “kiss its heart and spin in circles” Build-A-Bear stuffing tradition, and the workshop will also sell a limited edition Build-A-Bear branded Pokémon trading card, a Charizard costume, and a pokéball-themed hoodie.
For customers looking to quickly order a pre-made Pikachu plush online, the plush will come with a built-in sound chip that can say Pikachu’s famous lines “Pika” and “Pikachu,” as well as the aforementioned Charizard costume.
A partnership with Build-A-Bear Workshop is not the week’s only big Pokémon news, however. On Oct. 21, 2015, the Pokémon Company announced that a real Pokémon gym is set to open in Osaka, Japan, on Nov. 19, 2015.
Japan already has Pokémon Centers, where fans can shop for Pokémon-themed merchandise, but the gym’s creators, Sanoyas Interaction, call the Pokémon Expo Gym an “edutainment” facility. The gym is expected to be both educational and interactive.
While the gym won’t feature any real gym leaders to battle, visitors can battle and trade with others, take part in training programs, and play arcade style “training” games with downloadable prizes that can be used in personal copies of Pokémon X and Y, as well as Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby.
The Pokémon Expo Gym’s games require “trainers” to apply social skill that have been learned in real life, in order to solve problems and provide advice. Developers at Sanoyas Interaction are even working on a smartphone app that will allow “trainers” to track their stats and ranking in the gym, as well as helping visitors spot Pikachu, who will supposedly be hiding throughout the building.
If plush toys and real Pokémon gyms aren’t enough to satisfy fans, the Pokémon Company announced an immersive smartphone app on Sept. 9, 2015. The new phone app, Pokémon Go, will be released as a free download in 2016, to be used on both Android and iOS smartphones.
Pokémon Go was developed by Google Earth co-creator John Hanke, and uses real world location information to get Pokémon fans off their butts and into the real world. App users will be sent off on adventures to find and catch wild Pokémon in their cities and neighbourhoods. Additionally, the app will allow users to trade and battle with other users and supposedly experience what it’s truly like to be a Pokémon trainer.
The app can be used alongside a Bluetooth device called the Pokémon GO Plus. The device is worn on the wrist and resembles a watch, and will vibrate when a Pokémon is nearby. When a Pokémon is “encountered,” users will be able to catch them through an in-app minigame. Finally, the app will notify users of important real world Pokémon related events happening near them.
Junichi Masuda, a programmer, director, and composer noted for his work on the Pokémon video game franchise, is especially busy ensuring that the Pokémon Go experience will be similar and just as fun as the console video games.