Throughout 2026, Pokemon has celebrated its 30th anniversary, an enormous milestone for a pop culture giant. However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, after one of Pokemon‘s planned 30th anniversary releases was delayed in one region.
Earlier this year, The Pokemon Company offered a look at some of its 30th anniversary plans for Pokemon TCG. The upcoming expansion set features new illustration rare cards and 30 unique Pikachu designs, with each booster pack guaranteed to feature a Pikachu card in celebration of the 30th anniversary. The expansion is planned to launch on September 16, 2026, but it seems not every fan will receive their set on time.
Pokemon TCG 30th Anniversary Set Release Pre-Orders Delayed in UK
Both last week and earlier this week, Pokemon fans on Reddit in the UK were reporting that they had not been charged for their Pokemon TCG 30th Anniversary set pre-orders ahead of the collection’s September 16, 2026, release date. The charge usually occurs well before the release date of any new pre-order, leaving fans in the dark about when their orders will be shipped. A new banner on the Pokemon Center UK site may shed some light on the situation, reading:
“Order Processing Delays: We are currently experiencing delays in processing and shipping orders. Some orders may take longer than usual to be dispatched and delivered. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.”
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
In the same Reddit thread, users in the US claimed their money had been taken for their pre-order, suggesting the issue is limited to the UK. Across all the Pokemon Center global sites, the delay banner appears only on the UK and Germany sites, but reports of non-payments from the latter are not nearly as widespread, so it’s unclear whether Germany/EU fans are also affected.
Throughout the rest of the year, there are still tons of small ways that Pokemon is planning to celebrate the big 30-year milestone. In December, Game Freak is releasing three new Pokemon art books which look back at 30 years of history, covering Gen 1 all the way to Gen 9. It’s going to be very fun to see what else comes of the milestone, as it’s already been a massive year so far.
Looking beyond Pokemon‘s 30th anniversary and into 2027, it’s set to be a very exciting period for fans. Next year, Pokemon Winds and Waves will be released, bringing the series to Generation 10. Prior to its reveal, many believed that Pokemon Gen 10 would be released this year to mark the 30th anniversary celebrations with a bang, but it’s ultimately better for Game Freak to take its time and make the best game it can, even if it means missing out on a major milestone.
