Nintendo and The Pokémon Company tension over marketing campaigns detailed in podcast

Gamers often find Nintendo's relationship with the Pokémon IP confusing. Nintendo is just one of three parts that comprise The Pokémon Company. Game Freak handles Pokémon game development, while Creatures Inc. focuses on trading cards. That complexity has led to repeated disagreements. A recent Kit & Krysta Podcast described how Nintendo of America and The Pokémon Company clashed over how to market the beloved creatures.

Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang worked for Nintendo of America for over a decade, and they saw firsthand how the parties conflicted. Most of Nintendo's spats were with the American branch of The Pokémon Company. Many of the problems began leading up to the 2016 Pokémon Day celebration. However, the arguments involved approaches to promoting the brand rather than Pokémon game development.

Some of the battles Kit and Krysta mention in their podcast may seem petty to casual gamers. In one instance, The Pokémon Company took issue with Reggie Fils-Aimé's pronunciation of Pokémon in a promotional video. Another point of contention was the size of a creature's toenail in an ice sculpture. Most observers wouldn't notice these inaccuracies, but devout Pokémon fans have an acute attention to detail.

The source of the divisions appears to be related to the history of American The Pokémon Company workers. Some employees had previously worked for Nintendo of America before leaving the gaming giant. Soon enough, the same individuals found themselves collaborating with Nintendo again to promote Pokémon. Lingering resentment over lost positions may have led to internal struggles in The Pokémon Company.

Some gamers may have hoped to hear about Game Freak and Nintendo's response to performance issues in several titles. Still, fans now have Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Champions to look forward to. With new Pokémon games to advertise, there will be plenty of opportunities for more strife in The Pokémon Company.