The Pokémon Company are the masters at maintaining and growing a franchise.
Over 25 years since Red and Blue was released, and Pokémon remains an industry icon. In the UK, one of Nintendo’s weaker markets, Pokémon is the second biggest video game series (boxed sales) behind FIFA this year. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet just enjoyed the biggest Pokémon launch ever in terms of revenue. And anyone who visited the UK pop-up shop in August will be able to tell you just how fervent and engaged this audience is.
Pokémon has long since learned that three years is the ideal loop for the main series. Every three years a new ‘generation’ Pokémon game is released, and with it comes a new generation of cards, clothes, merchandise, events and a new era for the TV show. Each generation introduces new monsters, new characters and a new location for The Pokémon Company to build these things around.
source https://www.gamesindustry.biz/its-time-for-pokemon-to-end-the-three-year-cycle-opinion
