Pokémon turns 30 in 2026, but not everything about the world’s biggest media franchise is cute and cuddly. From mass seizures in Japan to Burger King’s toy recall after a child’s death, banned episodes, swastikas on trading cards, and Pokémon GO becoming such a sensation that it became a talking point during a US presidential election, the history of Pokémon overlaps with some very strange corners of real life. We’re breaking down some of the most notable controversies, debacles, incidents, snafus and hubbubs from Pokémon’s 30-year history (the ones Nintendo doesn’t want you to remember.)

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
01:20 – Pokémon Shock (1997): The Episode That Sent 685 Kids to the Hospital
04:30 – MissingNo., Mew, and the Urban Legends of the First Games
06:18 – Burger King’s Deadly Pokéball Toys (1999)
08:18 – Banned Episodes & Anime Censorship Explained
09:59 – The Jynx Controversy & Ash’s Blackface Incident
11:05 – The Pokémon Manga’s Dark Secret
11:47 – Trading Card Bans, Swastikas, and the Gambling Debate
13:32 – The Vatican vs. Pokémon (And Why the Pope Blessed It)
16:02 – Pokémon Go: Accidents, Deaths, and a Presidential Scandal
19:12 – Pokémon Go’s Political Takeover
21:01 – The Pokémon Card Market: Millions, Speculation & Armed Robbery
26:00 – 30 Years Later: Why None of It Slowed Pokémon Down

From the “Pokémon Shock” episode that caused a nationwide panic in Japan all the way to the astronomical rise of the Trading Card Game’s secondary market, Logan Paul’s $16.5 million Pikachu Illustrator card sale and a subsequent spike in high-profile card shop thefts, we take a wild ride through pop culture, censorship, religious panic, and billion-dollar speculation.

Whether you grew up with the original 151 or you’re still playing Pokémon GO today, this is a crash course in some of the many times Pikachu and company were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Subscribe to IGN for more Pokémon history, and be sure to check out our deep dives on how Pokémon owes its success to one of Nintendo’s least popular accessories:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87n6M4ZFh-s&t=140s

And our latest Pokémon Reviews:
Pokémon Pokopia –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scRb28lD7t4
Pokémon Champions –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=degBlN01LvY

#Pokemon #PokemonHistory

Watch a Magic: The Gathering expert react to your MTG questions! How would you explain the Magic TCG to someone who knows almost nothing about it? Well, we got PleasantKenobi, a Magic: The Gathering master, to answer a mix of Novice, Adept, and Expert level questions. So, how would you explain the Universes Beyond controversy? Are Magic proxies illegal or legal? What’s the deal with the Power 9, and why does the reserve list even exist? That, and more, is answered here!

If you’re new, and want to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering, this video might just have some of the answers you’re looking for!

PleasantKenobi is a Magic: The Gathering content creator, with a focus on passionate and informed MTG videos for newcomers and veterans alike. You can watch his videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@PleasantKenobi/featured

00:00 Intro
00:27 Can someone explain MTG to me like I’m 5?
00:56 What are all the different formats for MTG?
02:11 New player. Curious about what colors mean
03:19 How do I effectively explain what mana is and how it works to new players?
04:17 Is it very hard to start playing magic: the gathering?
04:44 Is magic the gathering arena a decent way to try the game?
05:26 How expensive is Magic to get into?
06:19 New to MTG – ELI5 the Universes Beyond controversy?
07:45 proxies. illegal or legal?
09:19 So what exactly is the deal with the power 9?
10:53 Genuine Question. Why does the reserve list exist?
12:55 Can someone explain brackets to me like I’m 5 years old?
14:35 Is 37 lands enough for the average commander deck?
15:29 Should I double sleeve my deck?
16:03 Could someone help me understand why very occasionally they will print a new card thats functionally identical to a previous card
17:31 Maybe a silly question, but why isn’t Sol Ring banned?
19:54 What’s the best color historically?
21:51 WTH are layers???
22:46 Why doesn’t Panglacial Wurm works in the rules?
24:22 How responsible am I for letting my opponents know what their cards do?
25:15 Is “Concede in Response” a Valid Strategy?
26:33 How do we feel about this?

Take a look at the Black & White Trailer for Spider-Noir, an upcoming live-action superhero series distributed by Amazon Prime Video. Explore the story of Ben Reilly portrayed by Nicolas Cage in Spider-Noir, premiering worldwide on May 27 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Spider-Noir tells the story of Ben Reilly, a seasoned, down on his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city’s one and only superhero.

Spider-Noir stars Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, Brendan Gleeson, and more. Guest stars such as Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, Cary Christopher, Michael Kostroff, Scott MacArthur, Joe Massingill, Whitney Rice, Amanda Schull, Andrew Caldwell, Amy Aquino, Andrew Robinson, and Kai Caster are also featured in the series.

Spider-Noir is produced by Sony Pictures Television exclusively for MGM+ and Prime Video. Emmy Award®-winning director Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag, Killing Eve) directed, and executive produced the first two episodes. Oren Uziel (The Lost City, 22 Jump Street) and Steve Lightfoot (Marvel’s The Punisher, Shantaram) serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Uziel and Lightfoot developed the series with the Academy Award®-winning team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal. Lord and Miller executive produce for their shingle Lord Miller along with Aditya Sood and Dan Shear. Amy Pascal also serves as an executive producer via Pascal Pictures. Cage and Pavlina Hatoupis also serve as executive producers.

Spider-Noir premieres on May 27 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Take a look at the Hallow Blade announcement trailer for this upcoming dark fantasy first person action-adventure game from developer Xekvera. Assume the role of a wanderer who forms a fateful, unbreakable bond with the Hallow Blade, an ancient, possessed sword that hungers for revenge – and souls. Focused on strategic, fast-paced first-person combat and deep exploration, you are tasked with overcoming the wrath of a cursed kingdom and its denizens. Hunt powerful foes and feed their souls to your weapon, as it evolves, unlocking new forms and abilities necessary in your journey to destroy the kingdom’s curse. Hallow Blade will be available on PC.

#ign #gaming

Don’t miss the Release Date Trailer for The Awakener: Battle Tendency, a musou action fantasy game developed by Taner Games. Players will slice through hordes of enemies to acquire loot, craft builds, and grow in strength. The Awakener: Battle Tendency is launching on May 5 for PC (Steam).

#ign #gaming

Don’t miss the Gameplay Trailer for Red Light On, a hyper-realistic single-player first-person shooter developed by V Games. Players will embody a tactical officer investigating a case that goes awry. Fall back on combat tactics and utilize investigative abilities to seek the truth behind the case. Red Light On is coming soon to PC (Steam).

#ign #gaming

Check out the Announcement Trailer for BrokenLore: Don’t Play, an upcoming first-person psychological horror game developed by Serafini Productions. Players will embody Hideo, a young man who’s obsessed with video games and eventually receives an experimental console in the mail. From level to level, Hideo’s surroundings in his apartment change as he further descends into madness. BrokenLore: Don’t Play is coming soon to PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).

#ign #gaming

#valkyrae #twitch #extraemily

Take a look at the Pre-Alpha trailer for ShatterRush, a multiplayer FPS developed by Tetra Studios. ShatterRush is a high-speed parkour FPS with massive battle mechs and fully destructible arenas. Wallrun, grapple, and smash through cover to outplay your foes in kinetic, high-speed combat as the map changes with every fight. Master momentum to outplay rivals in 16-player combat where the battlefield reshapes every fight. ShatterRush is coming soon to PC (Steam).

#ign #gaming

Check out the Powerplex Deep Dive Trailer for Invincible VS, the upcoming fighting game based on the hit comic and Amazon Prime series developed by Quarter Up. Players can get the rundown of the unhinged character of Poweplex, who joins the fight in Invincible VS. Get an in-depth look at the process of development, moveset, techniques, and more about Powerplex. Dish out the rage with Powerplex in Invincible VS, launching on April 30 for PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Xbox Cloud, Xbox on PC, and Steam).

#InvincibleVS #Gaming #IGN