This year’s PokémonXP and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco have drawn a massive crowd of over 50,000 fans. While the energy is palpable, The Pokémon Company International acknowledges the frustration among those who missed out on exclusive activities or even securing tickets to the convention itself. In an interview, Chris Brown, Director of Global Esports and Events at TPCi, shed light on the challenges of hosting such a large-scale event, discussed potential improvements for future events, and shared insights into the company’s plans.
Navigating High Demand: Badges and Access
The sheer volume of interest in PokémonXP and the World Championships is staggering. Over 130,000 people registered for a chance to snag a coveted badge, far exceeding the available spots. This year’s event saw more than double the number of potential attendees compared to the limited capacity.
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“When demand significantly outstrips supply, a lottery system is often the most equitable way to manage it,” explained Brown. He emphasized that this approach, while not ideal, prevents the online purchasing system from crashing and ensures a fairer chance for all fans.
Improving Access to Special Activities
Over the years, TPCi has expanded the range of activities available at the World Championships, catering to fans beyond just competitors. However, these special events often have limited capacity. For example, autograph sessions typically accommodate only a small fraction of attendees – around 0.03% this year. While over 2,000 fans participated in special events like autograph sessions and workshops, this is still a tiny percentage compared to the thousands who likely signed up.
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Brown acknowledged that improvements are needed and hinted at exploring ways to incorporate fan preferences into the activity selection process. “There are some obvious things we can probably do to make it better,” he said, while also recognizing the fundamental challenge of balancing limited resources with overwhelming demand.
Fan Feedback Drives Future Decisions
The Pokémon Company places immense value on fan feedback. After every event, TPCi conducts surveys and analyzes the results using a Net Promoter Score (NPS) to gauge overall satisfaction. They meticulously review thousands of individual responses to understand what resonates with fans and identify areas for improvement.
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“Last year’s pin trading had one of the highest NPS scores,” Brown revealed. “We’re offering 300,000 pins at no cost this year in response to that feedback.” He also acknowledged the challenges associated with high demand and long lines for popular activities like pin trading, promising to learn from this experience.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Competitor Participation and Global Reach
One of TPCi’s key goals is to increase the number of competitors participating in the Pokémon World Championships. The current target is to double the number of qualified players over the next five years. This shift involves moving away from a “Top X” format, which previously capped the number of participants.
Another priority is expanding the reach of the World Championships by hosting events in different regions. While some events have been held in North America to streamline operations, TPCi plans to host future championships in other parts of the world. “We need to move around between markets so that fans anywhere know there’s a chance Worlds could be getting close to them at some point,” Brown explained.
For more insights into PokémonXP and the World Championships, including details on new initiatives like the Pokémon Tales series and discussions about integrating wearable technology, check out PokémonXP panel about the new Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d and Pichu series.
Source: IGN Gaming
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