Pokemon x McDonald’s Summer Collab Revealed: Pikachu Timer and More
Pokemon and McDonald’s are teaming up again, this time rolling out a limited run of new collectibles for customers. The lineup includes a themed Pikachu timer and other bonus items, but as of now the crossover is only confirmed for a single region.
Over the years, McDonald’s has repeatedly partnered with major game and entertainment brands to hand out toys, cards, and other take-home goods. In the United States, fans have seen collaborations tied to big names like Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Minecraft. Even so, Pokemon has stayed one of McDonald’s most consistent global partners, with collectible figures and trading cards frequently standing out as the most sought-after rewards.
Separately, police have arrested a man accused of using a counterfeit cryptocurrency to trick a Pokemon card seller into handing over a rare card believed to be worth about $24,000.
McDonald’s Japan’s “Summer Chance Bag” brings Pikachu to French fries
As Pokemon’s 30th anniversary continues, McDonald’s Japan and The Pokémon Company have announced a new “Summer Chance Bag” promotion. The centerpiece item is the Popping Pikachu Potato Timer, designed to interact with a McDonald’s French fries-style toy package. The timer includes a Mouse Pokémon figure placed inside a toy “bag” of fries; when the countdown reaches zero, Pikachu pops out from the French fry bag. Alongside the timer, each Summer Chance Bag also includes additional Pokemon goodies, including cups and storage pouches that match the three classic starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.
There’s also a color-change mechanic built into the cups: once filled with a cold drink, the cup’s design shifts to a darker shade. Every Summer Chance Bag includes coupons that can be swapped for specific McDonald’s Japan menu items, including options like a Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets. On top of that, one out of every 10 bags includes a gold McDonald’s Card as a bonus prize.
The Summer Chance Bag will be priced at ¥3,900, which is about $24.12. Because demand for Pokémon-themed products has been high, McDonald’s Japan is running a lottery for the promotion through the McDonald’s Japan mobile app, with entries available until Monday, July 20. If selected, customers can buy and pick up their bags at any McDonald’s Japan restaurant they choose from July 27 through August 2.
McDonald’s and Pokemon are also planning additional food tie-ins during July. Starting July 16, more Pokémon-themed burgers will be revealed, and new Happy Meals are scheduled for July 31. While McDonald’s has included Pokemon TCG cards in earlier versions of this kind of crossover, it’s currently unclear whether this latest promotion will also feature trading card packs.
In another summer celebration, all McDonald’s Japan locations are set to act as official PokeStops in Pokemon GO, giving trainers another incentive to visit during the event window. However, a prior Japan run of a McDonald’s and Pokémon collaboration for 2025 was hit by controversy: packs from McDonald’s Happy Meals were reportedly scalped after being pulled from the meals, prompting McDonald’s to apologize to Pokémon fans and promise action against scalpers.
The Pokémon Company has also reportedly moved to discourage scalping in the Pokemon TCG space. In Japan, some sellers have already required customers to show government-issued identification when purchasing certain Pokémon products, making it plausible that similar requirements could show up around the McDonald’s promotion. For now, what other surprises McDonald’s and Pokémon have planned remains to be seen.
