Pokémon TV will shut down in March, and the app has already been removed from streaming platforms.
The Pokémon TV app is no longer available to download from the App Store, Google Play, The Roku Channel Store, Amazon Appstore, Nintendo eSho, and Pokémon as of January 8. Those who downloaded the app before last Monday can still watch available content until it shuts down entirely on March 28.
The company posted a statement confirming the decision on Pokémon and thanked fans for their loyalty.
The reason for the shutdown is unclear. Pokémon TV was not available for comment, but some fans wonder if this indicates another streaming service will launch at a later date. However, this is merely speculation of a disappointed fandom as no details have been released.
There is still much love for the franchise, which continues producing new content. Pokémon: Concierge debuted on Netflix last November, and Pokémon Horizons: The Series is set to launch on the platform on February 23. The post-Ash series follows new characters, Liko and Roy, who team up with the Rising Volt Tacklers and avoid the Explorers, a mysterious organization after Liko’s pendant.
Pokémon launched in Japan in 1996 as a role-playing game developed by Game Freak founder Satoshi Tajiri. It quickly gained popularity, sparking a craze known as Pokémania. The franchise expanded to create one of the most popular children’s animated series worldwide, additional video games including Pokémon Go, and trading card games. Pokémon became one of the world’s highest-grossing media franchises and one of the best-selling video games ever.
Pokémon’s website launched in 2010, and the official app debuted in 2013 on Android and iPhone. In 2021, it became available on Nintendo Switch. The app hosts every Pokémon show, special, shorts, and film in one free app. It hosted tutorials for the card games, event recordings, and news about Pokémon.
While the app never had the entire franchise available at one time, it rotated selections so fans could watch everything eventually. Now, the franchise is scattered across eight streaming services, so fans will need to sign up for multiple services to watch everything Pokémon TV offered.
Fans can still watch their favorite Pokémon on several streaming services, but to watch everything is a tad complicated, especially for younger fans. Most shorts are available on YouTube, but from there, prepare to go on a streaming scavenger hunt. Netflix hosts the first season. Prime Video offers seasons two through 22 between what’s included in a membership, Prime Video Channels – which often costs extra -and what’s available to rent or buy. To continue the series, jump back to Netflix for seasons 23 through 25, then sift through Hulu, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Freevee, Hoopla, YouTube TV, iTunes Store, Google Play, and Viz for the rest.
Check out Pokémon’s list of availability to see which series, seasons, and films are available on which streaming platforms. Good luck trying to catch them all.