San Francisco recently became the center of the gaming universe as it hosted the newly introduced Pokémon XP convention alongside the annual Pokémon World Championships. Held across the Moscone Center and the Chase Center, the landmark weekend drew 50,000 international fans to commemorate the massive global media franchise’s 30th anniversary.
The milestone event traced the beloved series back to its humble beginnings in 1996, when it first debuted on the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan. Fans enjoyed a packed schedule featuring competitive gaming tournaments, interactive exhibits, and nostalgic displays celebrating three decades of pocket monsters.
High-stakes competition highlighted the weekend at the Chase Center, where the Japanese team ZETA DIVISION captured the prestigious Pokémon Unite championship title. They secured the victory after defeating French squad Komai in front of a near-capacity crowd. Meanwhile, competitor Peder Larson represented team Evil Geniuses in the tournament, earning a tied fifth-place finish globally during the game’s final appearance at the World Championships.
Beyond competitive matches, the historic weekend served as a major platform for franchise announcements, creative showcases, and community achievements, cementing Pokémon’s enduring legacy as it enters its fourth decade of entertaining fans worldwide.
