Which company was jointly established in 1998 to manage the Pokémon franchise?

The Pokémon Company was jointly established in 1998 to manage the Pokémon franchise.

Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures created the company to coordinate Pokémon licensing, production, publishing, marketing, and related business activities. The arrangement allowed the franchise to expand beyond the original Game Boy games while keeping its major rights holders connected.

Game Freak remained the principal developer of the main role-playing games, while Nintendo continued to publish and distribute many Pokémon titles. Creatures contributed to Pokémon CG production and other projects. These companies are closely associated with Pokémon, but they are not interchangeable with The Pokémon Company.

The Pokémon Company later operated internationally through The Pokémon Company International. Its responsibilities cover a broad range of Pokémon products, including games, animation, trading cards, merchandise, and events.