Pokémon Friends Poké Ball+ Game Officially Unveiled Ahead of November 7 Release
A toy-based Pokémon game
Takara Tomy, a Japanese toy manufacturer, developed Pokémon Friends Poké Ball+. The virtual-pet game is housed inside a physical Poké Ball, where players interact with and care for Pokémon.
The new device builds on the 2025 Pokémon Friends Poké Ball, also known in Japan as Poké-Nade Monster Ball. The updated release has several names, including More! Poké-Nade Monster Ball in Japanese and More! Poke-Petting Poké Ball on Takara Tomy's English website.
Care, activities and exploration
The game includes 177 Pokémon: seven main companions that players can interact with directly, plus 170 others encountered during play. Those additional Pokémon include Mawile and Emolga. Inspired by virtual-pet games such as Tamagotchi, it lets players feed, bathe, and bond with Pokémon. Players can stroke the device to pet the Pokémon on its screen, with responses varying according to how they interact.
Other features include voice interactions, dancing, hide-and-seek, ball games, sweet-making, and Pokémon battles. Players can also decorate living spaces and visit five destinations to collect Berries, shop for furniture, and meet Pokémon.
Price and release availability
Two compatible devices can connect for shared activities, visits, and battles. Players can also encounter Pokémon available only through co-op play, but the feature does not work with earlier versions of the toy.
The device costs ¥8,140, approximately $52 USD, and preorders are available in Japan. Its November 7, 2026 release currently applies to Japanese retail; no international release has been confirmed.
Key points
- Pokémon Friends Poké Ball+ is due in Japan on November 7, 2026.
- The device features 177 Pokémon and virtual-pet care activities.
- Two compatible devices can connect for cooperative play and battles.
- It costs ¥8,140, about $52 USD; an international launch is unconfirmed.