Will Pokemon enter NFTs? If we’re to believe a recent job ad from The Pokemon Company, it’s looking at the possibility.
The Pokemon Company is making fans worry about what’s in store for Pokemon.
The aforementioned job listing describes the company’s need for a “business development principal” who will play an “instrumental role” in the company’s president and business development office. In practice, this means that the hired person will be close to the ears of the company’s president, Tsunekazu Ishihara.
The role’s duties and responsibilities include the following:
- Lead the identification, assessment and execution of investments, strategic projects and partnerships to support TPC’s long-term growth strategy.
- Find, research and recommend potential strategic partners to the president and executive team.
- Bring a group of advisors to the president, executive team and relevant business leaders to understand the trends and implications for the future of Pokémon businesses.
But while the duties listed are pretty standard, the “what you bring” heading is where most fans take issue. To be more specific, the listing requires the preferred candidate to have “deep knowledge and understanding of Web 3, including blockchain technologies and NFT, and/or metaverse.” Finally, the company prefers that the person hired be “deeply connected to a network of investors and entrepreneurs in the above technology sectors (Web3 and metaverse).”
Several Japanese companies have launched NFT projects in the past, most notably Square Enix. But in recent years, the market’s opinion of blockchain technology has deteriorated. Square Enix is now set to say goodbye to their former CEO after he led several NFT-based projects.
With that said, you can’t blame the public for worrying about the future of Pokemon. The franchise has gone through many changes over the decades to keep up with the times. Most recently, fans got their first open Pokemon game with Ash finally becoming the best trainer in the world, after which he will officially leave the series. But while these changes have received largely positive feedback, Pokémon NFTs or a Pokémon game based on the blockchain is where many longtime fans seem to draw the line.
If it’s any consolation, The Pokemon Company doesn’t specifically state that the entry is for an expert in NFT, Web 3, and the Metaverse. So although the company requires applications to have a lot of experience in that area, this does not mean that the Pokemon brand will go into it. At least not soon. The Pokemon company plans its moves years into the future, and it’s normal for a company to look into things that could benefit it.
So while we probably won’t see six-figure officially licensed Pokemon NFTs anytime soon, it could happen in the future.
