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Official logo in the 20th anniversary
The entire year of 2016 was celebrated as Pokémon's 20th Anniversary, as February 27, 2016 marked the twentieth anniversary of the original Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Green, and therefore the twentieth anniversary of the Pokémon media franchise as a whole.
Event distributions[]
Various level 100 Mythical Pokémon were distributed to American and PAL region of the Sixth Pokémon generation games.
- Mew - February
- Celebi - March
- Jirachi - April
- Darkrai - May
- Manaphy - June
- Shaymin - July
- Arceus - August
- Victini - September
- Keldeo - October
- Genesect - November
- Meloetta - December
Games[]
In addition to the following, Pokkén Tournament for Wii U and Pokémon GO were released worldwide in 2016. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon and a physical version of Pokémon Rumble World were released in Europe in 2016. Officially announced on January 26, 2016, Detective Pikachu the concept for which was initially unveiled in 2013 received a digital release on the Nintendo eShop in Japan on February 3, 2016. Pokémon Sun and Moon, the primary paired versions of the Seventh Pokémon generation, were announced at midnight JST on February 27, 2016 in a worldwide Pokémon Direct. They were released on November 18, 2016 worldwide except in Europe, where they were released on November 23, 2016.
In other Nintendo games[]
Nintendo Badge Arcade[]
On February 25, 2016, North American versions of Nintendo Badge Arcade celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Pokémon with ten sets of Pokémon badges, including the first badges of Mega Evolved Pokémon. Pokémon-themed HOME Menus were displayed on the game's Miiverse Gallery for a period after March 6.
Splatoon[]
In commemoration of Pokémon's 20th Anniversary, a Splatfest was held on February 20, 2016 at 6:00 AM UTC, pitting players who prefer Pokémon Red against players who prefer Pokémon Blue/Green. The Splatfest, like all Splatfests, was divided and tallied by game region. At the end of the Splatfest, in all three regions, Red lost to Blue and Green.
In Japan, replicas of the Red Team and Green Team T-shirts distributed in-game to participants were sold in Pokémon Centers across the country.
Super Mario Maker[]
An Event Course entitled I Choose You! was uploaded on February 11, 2016. When the player completes this course, they will unlock a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle costume. Completing the course three times will unlock all three. Unlike the Super Smash Bros. Pokémon costumes, these costumes have a full set of custom sound effects and music taken from Pokémon Red and Green.