Pokemon World Championships Feature Stunning Homage to Original Games

The ongoing Pokémon World Championships features a brilliant homage to the pair of games that started the franchise, sharing a stunning display of an iconic scene. The annual tournament typically serves both as the highest level of tournament for the different branches of the Pokemon franchise and a celebration of the series’ rich history. The 2025 World Championships tournament looks to be no different, with the ongoing tournament featuring lots of surprises between the video games and the Pokemon Trading Card Game. However, the event is offering plenty more for fans beyond its tournaments.

The Pokemon Company typically pulls out all the stops to make each year’s World Championships a grand occasion for fans. Pokemon GO is running its own event throughout the weekend to coincide with the World Championships, both featuring a special Pikachu and releasing a new code for an in-game shirt. The Pokemon TCG also rolled out a special promo card as part of the event, giving fans the chance to pick up a unique Pikachu card with a World Championships stamp. The main event now features a brilliant homage to Pokemon Red and Blue.

Pokemon is showing off the special display through its official social media accounts, depicting one of the franchise’s most memorable scenes. The on-site venue for Pokemon‘s World Championships in Anaheim features a special display of a battle arena, with large models of a Nidorino and Gengar squaring off. The scene serves as an homage to the opening animation for Pokemon Red and Blue, showing the two classic creatures from the original 151 battling it out before the games’ title screens.

Pokemon Shares Stunning Red and Blue Homage at Worlds

The annual Pokemon event serves as one of the highlights of the year for the beloved monster-catching franchise, with plenty of excitement surrounding it. This year’s tournament featured the chance for fans to get a sneak-peek at the next major game release in the series, offering a playable demo for Pokemon Legends: Z-A during the event. Pokemon GO is also giving fans some incentives to join in the competitive fun, with bonus Pokemon encounters and extra Stardust rewards for playing in the GO Battle League during Worlds.

Every Confirmed Character for Pokemon Legends: Z-A Explained

Pokemon‘s annual World Championships tournament comes at the cusp of major changes on the way for the franchise. The launch of the previously-mentioned Pokemon Legends: Z-A is less than two months away, with the game’s October release whisking fans back to the Kalos region and bringing back Mega Evolutions. The Pokemon TCG will similarly add new Mega Pokemon as an in-game mechanic for the first time since the Pokemon X and Y era of the card game. Pokemon fans should have lots to be excited about from the entire franchise throughout the rest of the year.