Unlike Nintendo, The Pokemon Company is a private entity and is not required to release its full financial records every year. However, the company typically releases a few interesting figures, and this year's figures are its biggest to date.
Sales for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2021, increased to 120 billion yen, or $1.1 billion USD. Operating profits increased to 27.8 billion yen, ($254 million USD), and net profits increased to 18.6 billion yen ($170 million USD). That's an increase of 21% year over year, and the highest profit ever reported by The Pokemon Company.
And a lot of that profit has to do with Pokemon Go, as noted by Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad who retweeted a profits chart showing the year that The Pokemon Company’s operating profits jumped to over $100 million Euros. The 2016/2017 financial year was the same one that saw the arrival of Pokemon Go, and it’s been an enormously profitable mobile title ever since then.
Pokemon Go's best year was 2020, with 120 million more downloads and an increase in revenue of 41% despite the COVID-related lockdowns. Niantic Pokemon Go-related revenue was almost a billion dollars last year, marking its most profitable year to date.
Pokemon Go recently announced its annual Go Fest details, revealing a musical theme and the shinies that will be on offer during the event. Unown F, Whismur, Chimecho, Audino, Tympole, Throh, and Sawk will all have shiny forms making their debut during Pokemon Go Fest, leading some of us to wonder if this is Niantic's idea of a sick joke.
Entry to Pokemon Go Fest will be just $5 this year and many of the activities will be free for all to enjoy. Habitats will rotate between Jungle, Desert, Mountain, Cave, and Ocean Beach to give players the opportunity to catch Pokemon generally not available where they live. You’ll also be given your choice of pop or rock musical accompaniment, depending on the Pikachu you choose at the start.