# Will There Ever Be a Pokemon Game for PC?
The question of whether Pokemon games will come to PC is one that has fascinated fans for decades. To understand this properly, we need to look at Nintendo’s business strategy, the history of Pokemon releases, and what we know about the company’s future plans.
## The Current State of Pokemon on PC
Right now, there are essentially no official Pokemon games available on PC through traditional means. Nintendo has kept Pokemon as an exclusive franchise for their own hardware, primarily the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and most recently the Nintendo Switch. This exclusivity has been a cornerstone of Nintendo’s business model for over 25 years.
However, there is one notable exception to this rule. Pokemon Unite, a multiplayer online battle arena game, was released on PC in 2021. This game is free-to-play and represents one of the few times Nintendo has allowed a Pokemon title to appear on PC. But even this game is not a traditional Pokemon RPG like the main series games that fans know and love.
## Why Nintendo Keeps Pokemon Off PC
Nintendo’s decision to keep Pokemon exclusive to their consoles is primarily about hardware sales. When you want to play Pokemon, you need to buy a Nintendo device. This strategy has worked incredibly well for the company. The Pokemon franchise has generated over 100 billion dollars in revenue across all media, and a significant portion of that comes from hardware sales driven by exclusive games.
If Nintendo released mainline Pokemon games on PC, they would lose a major incentive for people to purchase their gaming hardware. A person who already owns a PC would have no reason to buy a Nintendo Switch or future Nintendo console if they could play Pokemon on their existing computer. This would directly impact Nintendo’s console sales and their overall revenue.
Additionally, Nintendo views PC gaming as a different market with different players. PC gamers often expect different things from games, including modding support, customization options, and different pricing models. Bringing Pokemon to PC would require Nintendo to adapt their game design and business practices, which they have shown little interest in doing.
## The Emulation Question
It’s worth noting that Pokemon games have been available on PC for many years through emulation. Fans have created emulators that can run Game Boy, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS games on personal computers. While this is technically not an official release, it has allowed PC players to experience Pokemon games without owning Nintendo hardware.
Nintendo has taken legal action against emulation sites and creators over the years, but emulation remains a gray area legally. The company views emulation as a threat to their business model and has been aggressive in protecting their intellectual property.
## What About Cloud Gaming?
Cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming have created an interesting gray area. Some of these services allow players to stream games from their Nintendo Switch to their PC. This technically allows PC players to play Pokemon games, but it requires owning a Switch first and paying for both the console and the cloud service subscription.
Nintendo has not officially endorsed most cloud gaming services for their games, though they have experimented with their own cloud gaming technology. This remains a limited way to play Pokemon on PC, but it’s not a true PC release.
## The Future Possibility
Looking forward, there are a few scenarios where Pokemon could eventually come to PC. The first would be if Nintendo’s business model fundamentally changes. If the company ever decides that hardware exclusivity is no longer necessary for their business, they might release Pokemon on PC. However, this seems unlikely in the near future given how successful their current strategy has been.
Another possibility is that Nintendo could release Pokemon games on PC as a way to reach new markets or demographics. For example, they might create a free-to-play Pokemon game specifically designed for PC players, similar to Pokemon Unite. This would allow them to monetize PC players without cannibalizing their console sales.
A third scenario involves Nintendo’s next console generation. If Nintendo releases a new console after the Switch 2, they might use Pokemon as a launch title to drive hardware sales, just as they have done with previous generations. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean PC would get the game.
## The Switch 2 and Beyond
The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to launch in 2025, and Pokemon games will almost certainly be a major part of its library. Nintendo will likely use Pokemon as a system seller for the new console, just as they have done in the past. This suggests that Nintendo’s commitment to console exclusivity for Pokemon remains strong.
However, the Switch 2 represents an interesting moment for Nintendo. The company has been experimenting with new business models, including Game-Key Cards for certain games and increased digital distribution. These changes might eventually create opportunities for Pokemon to appear on other platforms, but this is speculative at this point.
## What Players Want
Surveys and fan discussions consistently show that many PC gamers would love to play Pokemon games on their computers. There is clearly demand for this. However, Nintendo has historically prioritized their own business interests over fan requests when the two conflict. The company has shown that they are willing to ignore player demand if it conflicts with their hardware sales strategy.
Some players have suggested that Nintendo could release Pokemon games on PC with certain restrictions, such as requiring a Nintendo account or limiting certain features. However, Nintendo has not shown interest in this kind of compromise.
## The Competitive Landscape
It’s worth noting that Nintendo faces competition from other gaming platforms and companies. PC gaming is a massive market, and companies like Valve, Epic Games, and others have invested heavily in making PC an attractive gaming platform. If Nintendo continues to exclude Pokemon from PC, they might be leaving money on the table.
However, Nintendo has historically been willing to sacrifice short-term revenue opportunities to maintain their long-term business model. The company values control and exclusivity, and they have been successful with this approach for decades.
## Mobile Gaming Considerations
Nintendo has been gradually increasing their presence on mobile platforms through their partnership with DeNA. Games like Pokemon Go, Pokemon Masters, and Pokemon Cafe ReMix have brought Pokemon to smartphones and tablets. This suggests that Nintendo is willing to release Pokemon games on non-Nintendo hardware in certain contexts.
However, mobile games are different from console games. They are typically free-to-play with in-app purchases, and they don’t directly compete with Nintendo’s console business in the same way that a PC release would. Mobile games actually complement Nintendo’s console business by keeping players engaged with the Pokemon brand.
## The Reality Check
Based on everything we know about Nintendo’s business strategy, their history with the Pokemon franchise, and their current plans, a mainline Pokemon game on PC seems unlikely in the near future. Nintendo has too much invested in keeping Pokemon exclusive to their hardware, and the strategy has been too successful for them to abandon it.
That said, the gaming industry is constantly evolving, and business models change over time. It’s possible that in 10, 15, or 20 years, Nintendo might decide that releasing Pokemon on PC makes sense.
