Thursday, September 3, 2026

Collection Challenges, Wherefore Art Thou?

By now, it's clear that a post with a title appended by the three-word question as with this one will deal with something that's been curiously missing for some time. This time it's in the realm of Pokémon Go, something that rarely has missing things, but in this case it's something that may be of certain significance. Since 2021, Collection Challenges have graced the game as an optional part of events that may also be engaging for those events. However, the feature has been curiously absent since early this year, and that becomes a prompt for writing up this post and discussing what may be the relevant circumstances to explain its absence.

Recall that last March, events started to be organized differently by adding Go Passes to them and/or making them less frequent (although the former then becomes another source of complaints, which may be discussed later). The Pokopia event then also happened to be the one which last had the feature, after which the absence occurred. Then in June and earlier, there was the reorganization of Today View, which was perhaps more vital than adding an instance of Collection Challenge. All these may or may not be the reasons that the feature went absent, but some of their complications at least may have had a hand.

The feature's absence also demands a reflection of its implementation all these years. Some of the instances have been challenging (which suits its name), but others have also been way too challenging, like the rather large ones of early editions of Go Tour or ones where multiple Pokémon need to be hatched out of Eggs that have poor chances (or the Trainers themselves were simply not fortunate enough). Yet others could be completed within timescales that are rather short, perhaps making them not "challenging" enough for what they are.

Perhaps for all of those possibilities, a break in its action may be well-deserved for the feature and Trainers who have expected it. Still, the break seems to have gone on long enough and they are interested in another instance of the feature. And by reports, that seems to be about to happen sooner rather than later, which could be regarded for fans of the feature (like yours truly) despite its share of "challenges" regarding its challenges (ahem). Thus, the return of the feature is and would be also very well-deserved for affirming its provisions.

Challenges constantly exist in Pokémon Go, with or without the above feature that explicitly provides that element, but the challenge in having to deal with the above feature's absence is quite a different one and is perhaps revealing of the elements of the game. With that, its recent absence is one that has to be duly noted and reasoned out, for the hope that its return can bring about challenges that are more receptive to Trainers and Pokémon Go.

One year ago: TCGP: A Visit to the Secluded Springs
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Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Technology Collaborations with Pokémon

This year is a special anniversary year for Pokémon, being its 30th year, something that bears repeating even now as it's transitioning. With such a lengthy presence, many entities outside of the franchise now also want in on it - as in, they want to collaborate with it. That includes some entities that deal with technology, specifically companies that produce certain devices, for whom Pokémon appeals to them for collaboration. Now (as well as further back), those companies have made their collaborations for Pokémon fans to enjoy.

Sandisk, the external storage company, recently came up with external drives that have motifs of certain Pokémon species. They comprise a flash drive featuring Mew and a portable SSD featuring Mewtwo - billed as emblematic of "mystical" and great power, for which the drives should allow for that. Even a little further back, they also came up with SD cards featuring Pokémon with additional Nintendo Switch branding, possibly for use in the consoles. Either way, the appeal and power of Pokémon is recognized.

Meanwhile, Polaroid as the company known for instant photos came up with new cameras for instant photos decked out with Pokémon colors - specifically those of Pikachu, Poké Ball, and Sylveon. To complete the gear, there are also camera cases, straps, and album cases with the Poké Ball motif, as well as instant photo films for use with the cameras that have some familiar (and favorite) Pokémon species on them. These instant photos are certainly all about making memories, and now they come with a neat Pokémon touch.

For the one that's somewhat further back, that would be Razer, the company of gaming peripherals. Their "Pokémon Collection" spans the gamut of keyboards, mice, deskpads, and headphones or earpads in terms of devices as well as Pikachu, Gengar, and more in terms of the featured Pokémon. These devices are primarily PC-centric, a realm where Pokémon is hardly present, but with Pokémon, their gaming flavor remains evident; the devices are a welcome addition for different Pokémon fans.

Whether they are of this year or were from past years, any collaboration with Pokémon is surely welcomed by its fans, especially for a special year like this one and if it involves products that are relevant to them. The case of the above technological products by the respective companies in collaboration with Pokémon makes it clear that they can acknowledge fans of this franchise and serve their (technological) needs, with or without a direct relationship to Pokémon but still having the particular flair of that very franchise.

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Tuesday, September 1, 2026

The Season of Twilight Trails

Certainly, the post that wraps up last season also has a preview or tease of the next one, and what that season entails is a walk on the less brighter side of the day, but one that still has its own way of captivating people and Pokémon species alike. Appropriately, the new season is called "Twilight Trails", and by its title and its timing for this stretch of the year, some things related to it could already be discerned. Regardless, the role of this start-of-season post remains to elucidate (ahem) as much of those things as possible.

As I'd mentioned, the new season will come somewhat late - to be precise, a week from today - as the previous season has to wrap up its "forever forward" path in a certain way to make way for the low light path. On the flip side, the new season is slated to end on time (that is, by the usual time I cover its end), so that would be the first in a long time... but I'm getting way, way, way ahead of myself, and the season itself hasn't even yet started. It is then appropriate to let the low light season run its course of things first.

Those things, as usual, will apply to Pokémon Go first and foremost because that's obviously its season title. Yet given the way things are for this time of year and the rest of Pokémon in general, it is not inappropriate to consider that there may be some overlap in the happenings for both Pokémon Go and other areas of Pokémon. That said, the path is still long at this point for the approximately three-month span that it is, and then of course there is the "shady" aspect that still needs to be considered.

On the seasonal emblem or logo, the part that is as crucial to the season as its content, it has all the colors of the dusk time, which is expected given the season's title. It also has some other elements that could be considered "mystical", in addition to the typography, which in itself is also "magical" in a way. That should be a rather big clue on the things that this season will entail, even if it is still necessary to prove their appearance now or later on in the season. The shady path may or may not all be laid out.

Now, it seems inevitable that any path in life will go through some rather shady times, and that includes some related to Pokémon, in this case Pokémon Go. The choice, plan, circumstance, or whatever that includes the next season that seems aptly titled to reflect that path also seems to have to be taken in stride (ahem) with the low light. That low light, though, can also be a "glimmer of hope" in a way with the possibilities that might just occur, and it may be up to everyone traversing that path to find it and light things up.

Two years ago: The Season of Max Out
Four years ago: The Season of Light
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Monday, August 31, 2026

The Peak of Forever Forward

This end-of-season post will be one that truly defines it, with the fact that I've always called it a "peak" rather than an "end". For starters, it needs to be said that today is in fact not the end of the season yet, and it's going to be rather delayed (by several days) from the usual time I bring it up for certain reasons. But things go on, times carry on, everyone moves on - somehow - and all of those make for pretty good points to discuss, especially since I've mentioned them way, way back at the beginning of the season, and now again at its end.

For this season, its origin as the game of Pokémon Go had brought about its usual mid-year run of celebrations, which of course would involve Go Fest and its anniversary, as well as other pertinent game events. All of them offered slices of things one might have moved on from but luckily (or not) can get to experience at least one more time before actually and finally moving forward. Given the season's title, it's a time to be reveled - in particular concern for the game's own anniversary - and then looked back on with kindness as time moves on.

Meanwhile, for other Pokémon happenings, they may be considered to have certain essences of moving on. That applies to the regular schedules of VGC and TCG (the latter even including TCGP), the seemingly foreboding demands of Unite, and the continuing "gap year" of Café Remix among other things. They carry over to (and even beyond) the big happening of this year's World Championships, and fans carry (or carried) on with them. 

With that, if time is to be considered as the answer from and to this season as I've mentioned earlier, then it allows for every purpose (ahem), including Pokémon ones as above, to occur. The common denominator is that they all develop in various ways with regard to time, and as that happens, a forward motion is incurred. In a way, the Pokémon Go season may just have been an affirmation that its Trainers (and beyond) needed for them to go on.

Something else that moves forward is the day, which moves on into the night and back into the day ad infinitum. Those who move throughout them - and many Pokémon fans will surely do - will also move on and through paths in them, and if the conditions are right, the light will be down low, but their excitement stays high even with forward movement.

Two years ago: The Peak of Shared Skies
Three years ago: The Peak of Hidden Gems
Four years ago: The Peak of Go
Five years ago: The Peak of Discoveries
Eight years ago: Solidarity Making
Nine years ago: Reunions!
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Sunday, August 30, 2026

Cosplay: 60 Seconds to Tokyo 2026

Me: Well, I can't be at (or send you to) PokémonXP and/or Worlds, but I can send you to a festival instead. 

Ash: And there's one today!

Me: Right. It's a little far away, but I think it satisfies the travel need.

Goh: And it's got an interesting name too. It almost seems unreal.

Ash: Don't you think? Not unless you use...

Goh: The Psychic Teleport! But even then that's also limited - I think.

Pikachu: Chu pika? ["Maybe?"]

Me: Well, that's a reasoning. Anyway, I wanted to send Ash today at the behest of one of my friends...

Ash: ...who runs (ran) the whole thing!

Goh: Really?

Ash: We talked about it off and on while I was there. But maybe we can save that for later.

Goh: For starters, how did you get there?

Ash: With a couple of our friend's other friends - we met along the way.

Goh: That's pretty nice!

Me: I'll bet that saved a load of effort.

Ash: It did - and on the way back too.

Goh: So, what about the festival, then?

Ash: It was in a hotel! Not where you'd usually find a festival.

Pikachu: Pi pi pika! ["Luxurious!"]

Goh: Ooh!

Me: Well, sometimes you find conventions at a hotel. I've been to ones myself that are such. But that's a different matter.

Ash: Would that be in a big room, just like this one?

Me: Yes! That's all I can say, though.

Goh: If it's a festival, were there communities and food?

Ash: Just one community - Bocchi Noizu - and three food stands. One of them has the exact same name as the festival.

Goh: Oh, your friend must have asked them to come.

Me: I'm sure he did. Oh, yes: I heard from some of my other friends that a hotel in my town also wants something going on as the same name of this festival, but I don't think it's a festival. And they canceled it.

Ash: I'm sure the hotels are all together! I saw a poster for that with lots of hotel names.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["A good deal."]

Me: I would think so too.

Goh: OK, and I'm sure there had to be competitions.

Ash: A character parade, and a photography one. I got in the first... but your friend wanted me in the second one too. So I came up with something for that with the food they sold.

Me: I saw that. It's exactly what I would make for that myself. It's also an excuse to eat.

Ash: Haha, yeah!

Goh: And then for the character parade, you had your world outfit. ( I wish I was there.)

Ash: Yeah. Our friend told me to "recycle" it from last week. So I "recycled" what I did there too.

Goh: And how'd everything work out?

Ash: Didn't get anything for both - but I did get a certificate from your friend.

Me: That was one of the points my friend sold me on, so there you go.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Pretty nice."]

Ash: Oh yeah! I also got in a minigame, and I got a little something - by answering Pokémon questions! They were all about Trainers and their Pokémon.

Me: Well, that would be another point... anyhow, that's pretty good.

Goh: So... entertainment - I'd guess song and dance.

Ash: You're right. There were a couple of dance groups and a bit of singing too.

Goh: Pretty standard.

Ash: I even filled in with "Mezase Pokémon Master" - but I got distracted a bit in the middle...

Me: Huh. Don't worry about it. At least it's not competitive.

Ash: Yeah, I guess you're right.

Goh: So I guess we can call this one a success - what do you think?

Me: I think you're quite right. Hey, maybe that local hotel of mine might just get things rolling.

Pikachu: Chu pika chu! ["Marvelous!"]

Me: Even so, did you tell my friend that it might not be so easy for him to do it all on his own?

Ash: I did. That was part of our talk after the festival.

Goh: Maybe there's something odd about it?

Ash: Um... I hate to say this, but I saw "The Forbidden One" wandering about the festival.

Goh: Wait, so he might have been involved?

Ash: From what I got, he might have put money into it and tried to control it.

Me: Uh-huh. See, that's the kind of threat that my friend might face. Now I think I might know why the local happening got axed.

Ash: Your other friends also stepped in and tried to help a bit - which I think did the trick.

Me: Well, I hope that whatever comes next will be free of his "influence".

Pikachu: Chu... ["Hmm..."]

Me: In the meantime, in the spirit of the festival's title, perhaps 60 seconds might be all you need to think you're somewhere.

Ash: I think that was all in a song there! You just have to close your eyes.

Goh: And then, our friend might just get to Tokyo or anywhere else in the world.

Me: Perhaps for the next World Championships, you and I can be there in person instead of just in spirit.

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Saturday, August 29, 2026

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/29/2026

August has once and again proven itself to be a busy and hectic month for Pokémon affairs in general and Pokémon Go in particular, and for the latter, the time is at hand to roll up or recap the in-game events that have taken place in the month. It occurs at the same date as last year, and a similarly late one at that, but that is only a further reflection of the hectic nature of the month. Furthermore, this season has the title of "Forever Forward", and this is its last month, so there's still a sense of the seasonal theme by that title that needs to be fulfilled.

Kicking off the month on August 1 was another replay event as a "Community Saturday", which was a Max Battle Day featuring Gigantamax Rillaboom, last seen approximately a year ago. All the usual perks (including more MP, a paid ticket "booster", and more Special Trades) were present for the replay event, as did the possibility of the species becoming Shiny, which may have been what Trainers were most looking for and that the replay facilitated for them.

Hot (or cold) on its trail was the Summer Marathon event with the subtitle of "Arctic Embers" from August 4 to 10. Like its earlier iteration in the spring, there was a chance to catch the marathon Pikachu by Timed tasks - yet only still by traversing the full length of 42 km. Its main focus, though, was on Fire and Ice types, specifically the debut of Shiny Snom, from Eggs or otherwise. Four Pokémon of the types, two of each, were also featured on alternating days along with a few other complementary species, some also from Field Research encounters. The event also came with a new avatar item as well as a Go Pass of 60 ranks containing regular and premium support items, encounters, and bonuses of greater PokéStop XP and reduced hatch distance... the last of these being useful to hatch the event 5 km Eggs as well as the ones from the Fire and Ice Hatch Day on August 8 featuring Magby and Smoochum. A few things about the event were truly hot and/or cold according to what Trainers preferred for and from it.

The water, though, is always cool (in a sense), as the Water Festival returned from August 18 to 24 as an UItra Unlock. For that purpose, it brought about the debuts of the Arrokuda family as well as Cramorant, mostly from Rainy Lure Modules but the latter also from Go Battle League. Other Pokémon of the given type supported these debutants in the wild, raids (including Tatsugiri, Dondozo, and a few other special ones), and Field Research encounters, plus Wiglett where it's found. As for bonuses, there were greater Shiny chances for Ducklett and Dewpider, and gradually increasing XP and Stardust catch bonuses every two days, plus Candy and halved Egg distance from the Go Pass of 60 ranks along with its other useful items and some encounters. The "crown jewel" of the festival, though, was the appropriately scheduled Starmie Super Mega Raid Day on August 22 with all the usual perks, and thanks to the Stardust bonus, a massive reward for those who really (and always) seek it. This edition of the festival was regardless one that delivered novelty and sparkle in more ways than one.

Finally, there is the accompanying event to PokémonXP and the World Championships from August 25 to 30 (tomorrow), with some particular focus for each "half" in three-day periods. This event expectedly has both special Pikachu in in-game form, which can be caught from raids and Field Research encounters. Because of the focus on the tournaments, Go Battle League allows for more battles (three times as many in a day), more varied IVs from Pokémon encounters, and a special background and music to suit. Both "halves" also have different accompanying wild and rare Pokémon, including in raids. A great deal of Pokémon will also know special moves when caught or evolved. Other niceties for Trainers involve avatar items for the champion, on-site visitors, and everyone (including a shirt and backpack), plus new stickers. This event's Go Pass of 60 ranks has some special goodies and encounters in it as well, not to mention some bonuses for Stardust catch and raids - some of which become very, very nice when upgraded to the Deluxe track. As always, Trainers can also watch Twitch streams for other rewards, especially to make them feel that they're there at the grand event.

With that, everything is also moving forward as the season ends and the next one is about to begin - sometime soon. It's something that always happens, further as the season's title may suggest, and when that is coupled with a busy and hectic August, as it seems to be in this and past years, that makes for an experience where "moving (on)" itself is a kind of necessity.
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Friday, August 28, 2026

Championship Journey on a Cable Car

Then, there's the event of the World Championships itself. As usual, much of its highlighting occurs on the Friday of the event as in previous years (this one was last year's), which may not necessarily be on the same date since the days and weeks shift. Coupled with PokémonXP for this year as the convention "arm", both events - even by themselves - may be construed to present a "journey", which will become evident soon by their explanation. That can also be deemed as significant in more ways than one, especially with what's being offered.

I mention "cable car" in the title of this post for a reason: both events are being held at San Francisco, California, and that vehicle is representative of the city. This year's location is also only somewhat farther removed from last year's, which may or may not bear any comparative significance. Regardless, Pikachu leads the pack this year (two of them) with a cosmic outfit inspired by Cosmog and a royal outfit that shows supremacy, and they represent the "double-sided" event as it occurs for the edition of this grand year in the grand seaside city.

Along for the ride (or journey) are the same members of the "pantheon" as last year: VGC, TCG, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Unite. However, it has to be said that Pokémon Unite will "get off the ride" after this year, for it plans to hold a separate championship tournament from the World Championships instead next year. Whether this has something to do with the current "state of the game" for that game (or not) could be anyone's guess, but it's clear that the journey for next year could also change in more and further ways as well.

Meanwhile, as usual, there's still a local entourage - that is, of my local area - with several more representatives now, including two teams for Unite. This also includes some who will be at the 
PokémonXP side of things, for which they are representative of various and diverse Pokémon interests as well. This journey is a continuing one, and if it happens that I can participate in the entourage somehow, then it could make for a very great time with them.

San Francisco is a city where it can be construed that a lot of the old meets the new, and this year's execution of the Pokémon World Championships has a few old things and new things going for it. For many, it's also the "gateway" city to the United States - I can attest this one myself - and this year's World Championships edition may thus also be considered a "gateway" of sorts for prospective players and fans who wish to experience things in the best ways.

On that note, the experiences, the players, the fans, and everything else that ties into both competition and convention are all getting on the cable car, and its bell has sounded for the journey of the next three days ahead. That's also the point at which I wish good luck to all of the participants above for the journey of this event as usual, and then more beyond that.

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