Making a Difference: Pokémon Presents, 7/22/2025

Well, that (bi)annual happening I referenced in this year's Pokémon Unite anniversary post is none other than an edition of Pokémon Presents. Sometimes there's just one of it in one year, but other times there are two of them in one year; evidently it's the latter for this year because there had already been one earlier. And if there's a second one, then that means some of the information is important and can't wait for the usual anniversary edition. It may be construed as a way of "making a difference"... which becomes highly evident.

First up, dedicated fans and viewers who tuned in early could catch a one-hour long DJ Pikachu performance featuring tunes from the first generation games from the early game to the endgame, all remixed in typical DJ fashion but still with different styles. This is certainly different from earlier iterations that don't have actual "pre-show" entertainment, and though it's not really part of the presentation proper, it's still pretty much adjacent and rather complementary to it, something to be considered for future iterations of the presentation.

The actual presentation, meanwhile, is approximately half an hour long and contains all the expected info and more. One of those is for the upcoming World Championships in Anaheim, CA in the U.S., with a preview of the festivities. This was followed by info for existing games: Scarlet and Violet (main series) with a new battle event, the physical TCG with card content for the new Mega Evolution expansion, Pokémon Go with a really big wrap-up, Unite with its anniversary festivities, Café Remix with a seafaring event, Sleep with a beastly trio event and a new area, and Masters EX with a new Sync Pair and bonuses - all of them a handful and varied.

Entertainment is also hot on the list. Pokémon Concierge, the stop-motion series on Netflix, now has a preview of its upcoming episodes slated to premiere in September. Speaking of stop-motion, the "kings" of it - Aardman Animation - also want in on Pokémon, and they've come up with a different animation featuring Sirfetch'd and Pichu, also teased here and slated for release in two years. For more realistic entertainment, there is also PokéPark Kanto - not a game this time, but a whole amusement park in the flesh (at least, a subset of one); it's due to open early next year. All the entertainment will come in due time.

Also hot are new games on tap. The first is a wholly new game called Pokémon Friends, which combine brainteaser puzzles and plush collections, available now on the Switch and mobile platforms. Meanwhile, Pokémon Champions has revealed more of its mechanisms (a "Recruit" feature and stat adjustments), which may just affirm its "battle client" spirit, as well as a planned release next year. As for the eagerly awaited Legends: Z-A game, it'll be due in three months and its most tantalizing additions are revealed here as well, including a new Mega Evolution of a very familiar dragon. Worlds of differences seem to await players and fans alike.

If certain worldly and life principles are of any indication, being different is not necessarily bad, and this edition of Pokémon Presents had that quality in spades. This edition had that for its introduction, the new content to existing games, the forthcoming entertainment forms, and certainly all the new games that fans can't wait to get their hands on and play. They're all important and beyond the usual norms, and that may be useful for Pokémon in general, as the maintenance of norms while occasionally breaking them for variety.

One year ago: Seventh Anniversary of My Raid Group

Two years ago: Cosplay: Shokumatsu

Three years ago: Respect for Zeno Robinson

Four years ago: More on Ideal Raid Lengths

Five years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 5

Six years ago: Movie Manga, Part 2 (Really 2)

Seven years ago: Pokémon Style Figure Sun & Moon 2 - Mimikyu

Eight years ago: Cosplay in a Bag