The Pokémon Company announces new subsidiary, Pokémon Card D Studio LTD

The Pokémon Company has announced another new subsidiary, Pokémon Card D Studio LTD.

As spotted by  Serebii, the studio is a renaming of DeNA Digital Production Co, which will now focus on the upcoming Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket.

This is the second new subsidiary formed this year, following the establishment of Pokemon Works in March. 

Pokémon Card D Studio LTD will be co-funded by The Pokemon Company and DeNA Co.

DeNA Co is the company behind Pokemon Masters EX, a Pokemon mobile game that has been a huge success since it launched in 2019. Only Niantic‘s Pokemon Go has seen more success for The Pokemon Company in the mobile space.

Revealed during Pokemon Presents in February, the new digital Pokémon Trading Card Game experience is coming to iOS and Android devices in 2024.

While it’s unclear if it will be free-to-play, users will be able to open two packs of digital cards per day free of charge, suggesting the game will be supported by in-app purchases.

Creatures Inc. president and CEO Yuji Kitano said it would feature “immersive cards [that] give players the experience of leaping into the world of the card illustration”, plus “streamlined game rules” designed for quick battles.

When question by Polygon whether or not the cards acquired through the game will be tradable or sellable in much the same way as an NFT, The Pokemon Company distanced itself from this.

“The Pokémon Company International has not developed or approved of Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) related to the Pokémon brand and associated intellectual property,” it said.

“Fans should be aware that any NFTs in the marketplace featuring Pokémon intellectual property are unofficial and in no way affiliated with The Pokémon Company International or the Pokémon brand.”

Last year, The Pokémon Company was looking to recruit someone with blockchain, NFT and metaverse expertise, among other skills.