By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
McDonald’s and Pokémon have launched a licensing partnership that offers Pokémon trading cards with each McDonald’s Happy Meal.
Featuring four limited-edition box designs, each licensed Happy Meal includes a poster, a sticker sheet and a Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) booster pack.
The exclusive box designs feature art of popular Dragon-type Pokémon including Charizard, Rayquaza, Roaring Moon and Dragonite.
“There’s nothing more exciting than when we can bring campaigns to our fans with partners that we’re fans of ourselves,” said McDonald’s SMD, Guillaume Huin. “Much like they do for McDonald’s, our fans have deep nostalgia and love for the Pokémon brand. We’re thrilled to build on those great memories and create a new moment of fun and happiness with the new Pokémon Happy Meal.”
In addition to the traditional Booster packs, the partnership will offer special digital rewards for the Pokémon TCG Pocket mobile game through the McDonald’s mobile app.
The in-game reward is a one-time redeemable code within Pokémon TCG Pocket that unlocks items which can be used to open two digital booster packs and one randomized digital card.
Each TCG Pocket player account will be eligible to receive and redeem one promo code through the in-app Happy Meal purchase program.
Available at participating McDonald’s locations, the licensed Happy Meal activation kicked off at restaurants across the United States on January 21, 2025.
The licensing rights, branding and marketing for the Pokémon entertainment franchise are managed by the Pokémon Company International, outside of Asia.