McDonald’s Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Happy Meal Promotion Reportedly Launching November 5

McDonald’s is reportedly preparing a new Pokémon Trading Card Game Happy Meal promotion in the United States as part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration. According to PokéBeach, the promotion is scheduled to run from November 5 through December 9 in the United States, with versions also expected in other countries on potentially different schedules. The details are still preliminary and could change before launch, but the promotion is expected to continue the familiar McDonald’s Pokémon TCG format by including a small pack of trading cards with participating Happy Meals.

Each Happy Meal is expected to include a four-card Pokémon TCG booster containing one holographic card and three non-holographic cards. PokéBeach reports that the promotion will feature 15 cards in total, including six holographic cards printed with confetti holofoil. The specific Pokémon appearing in the set have not yet been revealed. Previous McDonald’s Pokémon TCG promotions have generally used reprints of existing cards, but it is not yet known which cards will be selected for the 30th anniversary release.

The Happy Meal promotion is also expected to include a choice between a Pokémon toy and a Pokémon Essential Handbook. PokéBeach says it has been told the toy may be designed as a card display, although that detail has not yet been confirmed. If accurate, the display would give collectors another physical item to look for beyond the cards themselves.

The reported November promotion would give Pokémon another major mass-market trading card campaign during its 30th anniversary year. McDonald’s and Pokémon have collaborated on TCG promotions numerous times in the past, with the combination of exclusive packaging, special holo treatments and widespread Happy Meal distribution often drawing interest from both younger fans and established card collectors.

One major question is whether the promotion will include any exclusive artwork. PokéBeach notes that McDonald’s Japan released a Pikachu promo featuring exclusive artwork last year, but there is currently no confirmation that the card will appear in English. For now, the reported U.S. promotion is expected to center on the 15-card set and its six confetti holo cards, with the complete checklist still unknown.