Pokémon Sleep Development Transitions to New Pokémon Subsidiary

From SELECT BUTTON to Pokémon Works

In a significant shift within the Pokémon ecosystem, the development and ongoing management of the popular mobile game Pokémon Sleep is moving from SELECT BUTTON to the newly established Pokémon Works. This transition, announced in a general notice on the Japanese version of the Pokémon Sleep app, marks a pivotal change for the game, which has been jointly developed by SELECT BUTTON Co., Ltd. and The Pokémon Company, Ltd. since its inception.

The Pokémon Company launched Pokémon Works in March of this year, stirring curiosity about its role in future Pokémon projects. Now, eight months later, it's clear that Pokémon Works will take the helm in steering Pokémon Sleep's development and updates forward. The announcement, translated via machine translation, stated, "Until now, the development and operation of Pokémon Sleep has been handled by two companies, SELECT BUTTON Co. Ltd. and The Pokémon Company, Ltd. However, the development and operation of Pokémon Sleep will gradually transition from SELECT BUTTON to Pokémon Works."

This news has yet to appear in the global version of the app's News section, leaving international players in suspense about how this shift will affect their gaming experience.

Pokémon Works remains somewhat enigmatic, with limited information available about its ongoing projects. However, the company's website features a greeting from Representative Director Takuya Iwasaki, revealing that Pokémon Works is a collaborative effort between The Pokémon Company and Iruka Co., Ltd. Furthermore, Pokémon Works shares office space in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with ILCA, the studio behind Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, as well as a co-developer of Pokémon HOME. Iwasaki noted that Pokémon Works contributed to the development of Pokémon HOME, indicating a growing involvement in the Pokémon universe.

While their past contributions to Pokémon projects have been limited, Pokémon Works is committed to "creating an experience that makes Pokémon more real... so that everyone can enjoy meeting and adventuring with Pokémon." The specifics of how this ambitious vision will be realized in Pokémon Sleep are eagerly anticipated by fans worldwide.