Pokémon Going? Possibly Not

Group behind virtual reality game craze have 'no firm plans' to leave Chiswick

Pokémon's offices in Chiswick

Reports that Pokémon are planning to quit Chiswick may be premature according to local property market sources.

Industry magazine Property Week reported this week that Pokémon Company International, the local subsidiary of the firm behind the global virtual reality game phenomenon, Pokémon Go, may be looking to move to larger premises and out of the space it currently occupies in Chiswick Business Park. The article said that they were planning to more than double the amount of space for their rapidly expanding business.

The company handling the Pokémon’s property requirements in the UK, Frost Meadowcroft, refused to make any comment on the story but sources in the local property industry told ChiswickW4.com that speculation about the company leaving W4 may be inaccurate and that there are no firm plans to do so at this stage.

The company took a 10-year lease with a five year break at on 10,000 sq ft of space for its UK headquarters in September 2012 and Property Week suggests they now need 25,000 sq ft.

Pokémon started as a Game Boy role-playing game conceived by Japan's Nintendo group and developed into an international craze with associated playing cards and toys. It is the second most lucrative video game based media franchise in the world behind Super Mario which is also owned by Nintendo.

The Pokémon Company International, the Chiswick based subsidiary of Japan's Pokémon Co., now oversees all Pokémon licensing outside of Asia and was involved in the creation of the Pokémon Go game along with developer Niantic and Nintendo.

August 19, 2016