Pokemon job hints that the company is exploring NFTs

Many players avoid NFTs like the plague. The other an indie game that Moon frost mentions that it is NFT friendly, the internet turns it on. Even systems that act as NFTs, like the PlayStation Star digital collectibles, are enough to cause a stir.

At this point, it’s relatively easy to avoid many of these NFT games because they haven’t touched the mainstream. But what did the biggest media franchise in the world get in the game?

As spotted by VGC, a LinkedIn job listing for The Pokémon Company International is seeking a new hire with expertise in blockchain technologies, NFTs and the metaverse. There is a listing for a Corporate Development Principal, who will help shape the Pokémon Company’s marketing strategies going forward.

The job description specifically listed the following:

• “Deep knowledge and understanding of Web 3, including blockchain technologies and NFT, and/or metaverse.”
• “Deeply connected to a network of investors and entrepreneurs in the above technology sectors (Web3 and metaverse).”

It’s not hard to imagine how NFTs could possibly be implemented as a Pokémon product, even if not directly in a mainline game. The recent Pokemon trading card craze is enough to prove that collectors will pay for any collectible, digital or physical, if they find it valuable. Many children who grew up with the series are working adults now, so they have money to buy into NFTs as well.

The Pokémon Company wouldn’t be the first video game company to announce it’s leaning into NFTs. Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Take-Two Interactive are just three of many companies that either already have an NFT initiative or have expressed interest in NFTs. However, it is worrying when the company in question is one with products primarily aimed at children such as Pokémon.

Some gaming companies, such as Hazelight Studios, have spoken out against NFTs. CEO Josef Fares told the Washington Post that he would rather be “shot in the knee” than include them in his games. Others such as Sega were hesitant to fully support them, saying that if it was perceived as “just a move to make money”, it would pull back from NFTs. (Note that this is after backlash from even considering it.) As more and more companies invest in blockchain, they allow these technologies to infiltrate even more of the industry.

Now, a job posting doesn’t mean Pokémon is going full-on into NFTs. It could be that they want someone to just keep an eye on this area of ​​development. We may be heading further into dystopia, but hopefully Pokémon won’t be part of the problem.