An intense debate took over the Pokémon fan community after information circulated about a supposed increase in the value of future games in the franchise. The discussion raises the question whether the massive popularity of Pokémon would allow the company to raise prices, as well as other major titles in the gaming market.

The controversy began in early July, when a post by well-known Pokémon leaker Centro went viral. The account released alleged internal documents from The Pokémon Company, detailing product pricing policy. These files would come from a Game Freak data leak, which occurred in 2024, which would have exposed development plans, design documents and budgets.

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According to the Center, The Pokémon Company expressed the desire for fans to purchase both versions of each new generation of games. Since its launch, the franchise has always sold double editions, with exclusive Pokémon and features, traditionally encouraging social interaction, not just profit. Despite already high sales, it is understandable that the company seeks to increase its revenue even further. The leak suggests that Game Freak has already been successful in this regard, with 50% of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon players purchasing both versions.

Centro further stated that The Pokémon Company “wanted to increase the price of Pokémon games from the previous $60 since Sword/Shield, but it was not possible at the time due to the non-standardization of higher prices in North America”.

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Fan reactions to the possible readjustment of values

Against the backdrop of recent Pokémon releases, the prospect of higher prices has generated discontent. Titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have been criticized for performance and graphics issues on the Nintendo Switch. The series also faced controversies related to production quality and the lack of dubbing, even after three decades of existence.

The dissatisfaction was reflected in comments from fans, such as one who wrote: “It’ll be $80 physical, I bet.” Another expressed: “I work at a company with directors like that, and they are very greedy and stupid.”

Context behind the leak and its true meaning

After a year of multiple price increases for video game software and hardware, the cost of games is at the center of consumers’ concerns. Companies like Sony have been pushing the transition to digital in search of greater profits, making value a sensitive topic for gamers. This context may have led to the misinterpretation that the Center was stating an imminent increase for Pokémon Winds and Waves.

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However, the documents referenced by Centro were not about modern Pokémon games. These were discussions held around 2018, specifically related to Pokémon Sword and Shield, and focused on increasing sales in Japan. As these games did not have their prices raised, Game Freak’s decision at that time is already known.

The uncertain future of launches and prices on the market

Pokémon Winds and Waves does not yet have a confirmed release date. Until the games hit the market, the ongoing component crisis could lead companies like Nintendo to further adjust software or hardware prices. Higher prices have already been observed for games like Mario Kart World, which costs $79.99, indicating that an $80 Pokémon game would not be unreasonable. Nintendo has sought to balance recent increases with more accessible digital games. If Pokémon games become more expensive, this change could be mitigated with better deals on consoles or game bundles.