Record-breaking event showcases Pokémon esports' global rise

Pokémon World Championships 2024 

The 2024 Pokémon World Championships marked a historic milestone in the franchise's esports journey, establishing itself as the most popular Pokémon esports event to date. 

 Held in Honolulu, Hawaii, this invite-only event brought together the best trainers and players from around the globe to compete in various Pokémon games, including the video game championships (VGC) featuring Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. 

The event witnessed record-breaking viewership, amassing 3.41 million hours watched across all six events a 24.5% increase from the previous year. The VGC, specifically the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet tournament, garnered the highest viewership, reaching a peak of 123.9K viewers, making it the most-watched Pokémon esports event ever. The TCG events also drew significant attention, especially the Masters division, which received extensive coverage and a large audience due to its engaging matchups and strategic gameplay. 

Interestingly, while the Pokémon franchise remains immensely popular in Japan, the esports events attracted predominantly English-speaking audiences, highlighting a unique trend in viewership demographics. Despite the challenges of international travel, the 2024 World Championships successfully blended competition with cultural celebration, offering a vibrant experience for all attendees. With the next championships set for Anaheim, California, in 2025, the anticipation for future Pokémon esports events continues to grow.