The Pokémon Trading Card Game was first published in Japan in October 1996.
Media Factory published the first Pokémon Trading Card Game cards, which were based on the Pokémon video games. The tabletop game translated video-game concepts such as Pokémon, attacks, Energy, damage, and evolution into a collectible card format.
The Japanese release followed the February 1996 launch of Pokémon Red and Green. It helped extend the franchise beyond handheld games and created a new way for players to collect, trade, and battle with Pokémon. The game was later published internationally, with Wizards of the Coast handling the original U.S. release in late 1998.
The date is sometimes confused with the first American release or with the video games’ debut. October 1996 refers specifically to the first Japanese publication of the card game. Its standard format uses two players and decks of 60 cards.