The thirtieth anniversary of Pokémon is quick approaching on twenty seventh February 2026, and it appears McDonald’s can be placing Pokémon playing cards in its Joyful Meals in a brand new promo much like previous occasions.
In accordance with a report from PokéBeach, it would run from February into March, with precise dates relying on the nation, however that is all the main points recognized proper now.
Previous occasions — for the twenty fifth anniversary, for instance — have seen scalpers rocking as much as shops and shopping for dozens of Joyful Meals to get the playing cards. McDonald’s within the UK put a restriction on shopping for multiple additional card along with your meal following the frenzy within the US, however that looks like attempting to cease a geyser with a bathplug.
The Pokémon Firm and Ronald have persevered, although – there was a Dragon-type collab earlier in 2025. And again in August, a three-day Pikachu occasion in Japan was stopped after 24 hours when demand for the cardboard exceeded provide, with containers of unopened playing cards turning up on the market on-line. Shifty. That one was notably wanted, although, as the cardboard featured unique art work.
It is a disgrace that Pokémon playing cards simply appear to draw a manic mixture of the FOMO crowd (ask the parents at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum) and straight-up scalpers, bringing out the worst in individuals who ignore twister warnings and behave atrociously to get their palms on recent packs.
We’ll see in February if TPC and McDonald’s have any intelligent plans to fight the issue.
[source pokebeach.com]
Associated Video games
See Additionally
Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 earlier than becoming a member of the positioning full-time the next yr, rising via the ranks to develop into Editor. He can at the moment be discovered squashed beneath a Change backlog the scale of Normandy.
