The Pokémon Company is looking for Web 3 technology experts for their new Corporate Development Principal position, per a recent job post on its website.
The famous Japanese game firm is seeking out individuals with over seven years of corporate development experience as well as a “deep knowledge and understanding of Web 3,” specifically mentioning blockchain, metaverse and NFT technologies as pertinent points of interest.
The position requirements may come as a surprise to some, considering the fact that The Pokémon Company has been reluctant to embrace Web3 technology.
One of the most popular forms of Web3 games, NFT (non-fungible token) games, became prominent in 2021 when artists and brands began selling game cosmetics or assets as tokens to crypto enthusiasts. However, fierce backlash and volatile markets led to the practice falling out of favor in the West.
NFT, metaverse and blockchain technologies have gained popularity among some Japanese developers. For example, Square Enix, the studio behind Final Fantasy, announced it would pivot heavily into NFT in 2023.
The Pokémon Company may follow in Square Enix’s footsteps if its Corporate Development Principal requirements are anything to go by. Applicants will be based in Bellevue, Washington, but will require building relations with The Pokémon Company’s core operations in Japan.
Gotta mint ‘em all
NFT enthusiasts have been eyeing the Pokémon brand for some time now, whether or not The Pokémon Company approves of the technology.
Since current regulations and legislation have left NFTs in a copyright gray area, some fans have taken it upon themselves to mint Pokémon products like trading cards into NFTs. Marketplace trading sites like RareMint show a variety of Pokémon trading cards, from Pikachu to Ancient Mew, being sold as NFT tokens.
The Pokémon brand has existed since the 1990s and has retained its global cultural presence. With more than a thousand Pokémon and countless games, animations and other media, the franchise holds great potential for more content and tokens among NFT enthusiasts.
However, The Pokémon Company has been notorious for its disapproval of the minting and use of its products.
In late 2022, the company sued an Australian NFT game developer for using Pokémon-branded products as NFTs. In the legal documents of the case, The Pokémon Company noted that it had chosen not to sell or produce NFTs and other Web3-based technologies.
“The Pokémon Company and Nintendo had made a deliberate decision not to launch any Pokémon NFTs,” a lawyer representing The Pokémon Company said.
The recent job posting may indicate a change of heart on the company’s part, considering applicants are encouraged to possess significant expertise in the technology. Not only is The Pokémon Company looking for applicants with in-depth knowledge of blockchain technology, but it is also searching for a connection with “a network of investors and entrepreneurs” in the field.
Backlash on NFT projects
The news will likely please numerous digital asset enthusiasts, though it may not please some gamers. Since its early appearances in Western AAA games, implementing NFTs in any shape or form has led to considerable criticism.
In early 2022, Assassin’s Creed studio Ubisoft was disparaged online for releasing its NFT platform, Quartz. While some watchers were concerned about the environmental impact associated with minting NFTs, many gamers were convinced that the entire practice was another cash grab scheme on the company’s part.
“For now, because of the current situation and context of NFTs, gamers really believe it’s first destroying the planet and second just a tool for speculation,” Ubisoft Strategic Innovations Lab Vice President Nicolas Pouard said.
While The Pokémon Company may still dive into the project, it’s worth noting that the new job position must also “listen and understand the interests and needs of our customers,” suggesting that NFTs may still be a tentative task on the company’s list.
