- The cumulative revenue from Pokémon merchandise has reached an impressive $91.6 billion
- Pokémon continues to reign as the top-grossing media franchise globally
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In 2023, The Pokémon Company secured its spot as the seventh largest licensor worldwide, generating $10.8 billion from licensed products featuring the company’s IP.
This information is based on the latest Top Global Licensors Report 2024 by Sega, which highlighted The Pokémon Company’s significant revenue from licensed merchandise for the previous year.
This milestone also contributes to the overall Pokémon revenue from merchandise, reaching $91.6 billion, solidifying its position as the most lucrative media franchise in the world.
Purchasing Power
The licensing earnings for Pokémon in 2023 marked its second-highest achievement to date, surpassing the $8.5 billion milestone reached in 2021 during the pandemic. Although there was a slight decline from the $11.6 billion earned in 2022, which coincided with the release of the open-world Nintendo Switch games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, sparking a surge in new merchandise featuring the new collectible creatures.
The introduction of new characters from Scarlet and Violet led to a variety of licensed products in 2023, such as expansions for the trading card game like Paldea Evolved and Paradox Rift. Additionally, new species were added to the popular mobile game Pokémon Go last year.
In 2023, the launch of Pokémon Sleep, a $100 million project aimed at promoting healthy sleep habits through gamified features, took place. The franchise currently boasts five major mobile games with frequent updates.
“With ongoing mainstream interest in the brand, Pokémon has become a highly sought-after partner,” stated License Global in their report.
Diversified Brands
One of the leading licensors in 2023 was Hasbro, ranking fifth with $14.1 billion from licensed products, including the successful mobile game Monopoly Go!, which has now surpassed $3 billion in revenue.
Notably, The Walt Disney Company claimed the top spot on License Global’s list, renowned for licensing its characters for toy lines, clothing, and video games. Disney’s licensed merchandise generated a remarkable $62 billion in 2023.
According to License Global, toys, games, and location-based entertainment were among the prominent categories that emerged within the licensing landscape in the past year.
