Pokemon Gold and Silver are Getting Cool New 25th Anniversary Merch

Key Takeaways

Pokemon Gold and Silver’s 25th anniversary sees new merchandise celebrating Game Boy graphics.
Collection includes plush toys, color-changing mugs, jackets, and more based on sprites from the games.
Despite size limitations on the cartridges, Pokemon Gold and Silver were massive hits that proved Pokemon’s lasting power.

In honor of their 25th anniversary, Pokemon Gold and Silver are getting a new line of celebratory merchandise. The collection fully celebrates the series’ Game Boy origins, with the sprites of Pokemon Gold and Silver, in particular, getting numerous types of loot.

Pokemon Gold and Silver were tremendously impactful when they released way back in 1999. Pokemon Gold and Silver built upon nearly everything that Pokemon Red and Blue had started, introducing more Pokemon, types, areas, Gyms, and plenty more. While the series has progressed leaps and bounds since, Pokemon Gold and Silver still have many fans who look back on the games with great fondness.

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Now, Pokemon Gold and Silver are getting a collection of new merchandise in honor of their approaching 25th anniversary. The collection is based upon the Pokemon and artwork of the two games, including both their proper representations and their squashy, chibi-style sprites from the games themselves. The collection will include plush toys, color-changing mugs, jackets, home decor, stationary, and more. One of the arguably most clever among these is the color-changing mug, which uses the effect to show a Pokemon trainer beginning a battle against a wild Pokemon.

The collection will initially arrive in Pokemon Center stores in Japan, starting on November 23. At this time, there’s no official information on a full release outside of Japan, but many of these items may become available for purchase via Amazon Japan at a later date.

Pokemon Gold and Silver Merchandise Celebrates Game Boy Graphics

While the plush toys and jackets are based upon or feature art from Ken Sugimori’s iconic Pokemon illustrations and concept art, most of the merchandise collection is actually based on the sprites from the games. Many of the Pokemon Gold and Silver sprites weren’t accurate depictions of the Pokemon they stood in for, with one sprite often representing numerous completely different Pokemon. The size limitations on the cartridges deemed this a necessity, which may have been disappointing to some at the time, but these days the sprites tend to stir nostalgia for fans.

Many thought that Pokemon was a flash in the pan phenomenon that would burn out rapidly, which Pokemon Gold and Silver proved wrong. The titles were massive hits both in terms of reviews and sales, and they were loved enough to be revisited with Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver ten years later. As the franchise approaches its 30th anniversary, it’s become very clear that Pokemon is here to stay.