Summary
- Tag-based arcade game Pokemon Mezastar may finally be expanding beyond Japan in the near future.
- A recently emerged trademark filing suggests that the hit game could soon launch in Indonesia.
- Pokemon Mezastar was originally released in September 2020 and remains a Japan exclusive to this day.
Pokemon Mezastar could finally be gearing up for a wider release, according to some newly uncovered intellectual property filings. The Pokemon arcade game is currently only available in Japan, where it has proven to be quite a hit.
Pokemon Mezastar is a modern arcade game developed by Nintendo's long-time partner Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. The Japanese toy manufacturer initially intended to release it in mid-2020, but delayed it until September of that year due to the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The game itself is housed in an arcade machine equipped with a large screen, physical controls, and a tag dispenser. Plastic tags are at the center of Pokemon Mezastar's gameplay loop, as they contain Pokemon that players catch after battling them, then reuse them in future sessions by simply placing their tag on one of the machine's lanes.
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Pokemon Mezastar May Be Coming to More Countries Soon
Nearly four years following its original debut, the popular arcade game may finally be ready for a wider release. This is suggested by a trademark for "Pokémon MEZASTAR & Lukisan" that Nintendo has recently filed in Indonesia. According to regulatory filings reviewed by The Best War Games, the Japanese gaming giant applied to secure the said trademark in July 2024. Aside from arcade machines, the trademark has also been classified as related to electronic accessories, possibly because the original version of Pokemon Mezastar already supports a variety of gadgets.
As for the term itself, the Pokemon Mezastar and Lukisan moniker has never before been used by Nintendo in an official capacity. "Lukisan" is a Malay and Indonesian word for "picture," "painting," or "drawing." Its presence in the trademark could suggest that this is an entirely new version of Pokemon Mezastar that Nintendo is planning to launch beyond Japan, although it's also possible that the company is merely looking to rebrand the game as part of its apparent bid to bring it to new audiences.
Indonesia's IP authority, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), still hasn't approved Nintendo's trademark application as of mid-July 2024, but is likely to do so by year's end. The Best War Games was unable to find evidence of the Japan-only Pokemon arcade game eyeing release in any other countries besides Indonesia.
Over the years, Pokemon Mezastar was at the center of several high-profile brand collaborations. One of them was unveiled in June 2021, when the game released a limited series of six McDonald's Japan tags that were only obtainable by purchasing Happy Meals. Although Mezastar is still the newest Pokemon arcade game to hit the market, that won't be the case for much longer, with Nintendo just recently announcing another similar offering in the form of Pokemon Frienda. The 3v3 battle arcade game is scheduled to launch in select Japanese arcades and shopping centers in the second half of July 2024.
- Created by
- Satoshi Tajiri
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.