Which three companies established the organization that became The Pokémon Company?

Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak established the organization that became The Pokémon Company. The joint venture was founded in 1998 as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd.

Its original purpose was narrower than the modern company’s role: it was created to manage specialized Pokémon merchandise stores in Japan. The first Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, in July 1998.

The organization expanded after Pokémon Gold and Silver increased the volume of licensing and merchandising opportunities. In October 2000, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was renamed The Pokémon Company and took on broader responsibility for managing the franchise across games, cards, animation, films, and merchandise.

The three founding companies have different historical roles. Nintendo published the original games, Game Freak developed them, and Creatures worked on the trading card game and other Pokémon business operations. The Pokémon Company manages the brand, but it is not the studio that develops every Pokémon game.