Highlights
- The Pokemon Company has officially shut down the Pokemon TV streaming app, sunsetting the app that allowed fans to stream anime episodes on mobile devices and Switch,
- The Pokemon Company previously confirmed the shutdown earlier this year, delisting the service from app stores and the Switch eShop.
- Pokemon TV’s shutdown comes as the franchise’s streaming offerings have been heavily criticized, with seasons split across multiple different streaming services.
The Pokemon Company has officially shut down its Pokemon TV app, sunsetting the anime streaming app available for fans on Switch. Since its debut in the late 1990s, the Pokemon anime has been one of the most popular facets of the massively popular monster-catching franchise, airing consistently for more than 25 years. The franchise has typically debuted a new series of the anime to coincide with each of its new game releases, featuring the most recent games’ new region and Pokemon. Now, however, one popular way of watching the anime has now been shut down.
First launching through Pokemon‘s official website and later debuting as a mobile app and on the Switch eShop, Pokemon TV offered fans a free way to watch the anime series. The app allowed fans to watch episodes from throughout the history of the Pokemon franchise, including the earliest episodes now referred to as “The Beginning.” The app would later be brought to Switch in 2021, giving fans on Nintendo’s handheld home console a way to watch their favorite episodes on the platform. However, Pokemon TV has now officially reached its end as The Pokemon Company sunsets the service.
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Pokemon TV Streaming App Shut Down
As reported by NintendoLife, following a previous announcement regarding Pokemon TV‘s end of service, the streaming app has now been officially shut down. The Pokemon Company had announced it would be shutting down Pokemon TV earlier this year, delisting the app from the Switch and mobile app stores at the same time. The company did not give an official reason at the time for the shutdown of Pokemon TV, with fans initially speculating that The Pokemon Company may be planning to debut a new service. A successor to Pokemon TV has not been officially confirmed.
The shutdown of Pokemon TV comes as the franchise’s streaming offerings have been the subject of criticism among many fans. Pokemon does not feature one easy way to watch the entire franchise through one streaming service, with seasons instead split between several different platforms. Fans looking to watch the whole series through legitimate means need to sign up for multiple streaming services with different Pokemon seasons held by Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and more.
The major change to Pokemon‘s streaming options comes just a year after the anime made one of its biggest changes in its history. More than 25 years after the anime’s original debut, Pokemon would see its first change in protagonist as Ash Ketchum and his iconic Pikachu left the series. The debut of Pokemon Horizons saw the introduction of a pair of new protagonists, with Liko and Roy traveling throughout the Paldea region. Pokemon TV‘s shutdown will serve to further complicate an already complex streaming environment for the beloved franchise.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
- Created by
- Satoshi Tajiri
