The Pokemon Company and Niantic will add Pokemon GO‘s Professor Willow into the Pokemon Trading Card Game in Summer 2021. This announcement appeared to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Trading Card Game, which was established in the same year as the first Pokemon games — Pokemon Red and Green—in 1996.
Professor Willow fills the role of the Pokemon Professor who also introduces Pokemon GO players to the game’s world. He specializes in Pokemon distribution and habitats, similar to Professor Birch from the Hoenn region featured in the 3rd-generation series, Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
Although he handles real world locations for Pokemon GO, Professor Willow also has connections with many people in the Pokemon universe. He used to work under Professor Oak before going away on his own expedition. Othe collegues of Professor Willow include the Kalos region’s Professor Sycamore and the Galar region’s Professor Magnolia.
The Pokemon Company will reveal more details on Professor Willow’s TCG appearance from late May 2021, such as the actual card artwork and its effects on the game. The card will be available in all regions where the TCG is officially sold. The company will also divulge details to obtain the card in each region at a later time.
Professor Willow’s game, Pokemon GO, is immediately available on Android and iOS devices worldwide. Both Pokemon GO and the Pokemon Trading Card Game continue to receive new content. The former adds Therian Formes of Unova’s Forces of Nature — Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus — while the latter has a new Shining Fates expansion.
