Tim Cook hosted Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara and Pikachu at Apple Park on August 27, 2026, introducing the gaming franchise’s leadership to incoming Apple CEO John Ternus just days before Cook’s transition to executive chairman on September 1.
Cook shared a video on X documenting the visit, narrating that the day’s agenda was to introduce the Pokémon team to Ternus, “talk gaming, and politely ask Pikachu to stay out of the pond.” The post concluded with a note that “two out of three were accomplished”, the video itself showing Pikachu wandering the campus, attempting to retrieve an Apple from under an Apple tree before making its way toward the pond. The footage also captured Pikachu dancing beneath the rainbow arch and picking fruit from the orchard.
Today’s agenda at Apple Park: Introduce the @Pokemon team to John, talk gaming, and politely ask Pikachu to stay out of the pond. Two out of three were accomplished. pic.twitter.com/KzirV3VX8U
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 27, 2026
The visit formalises the transition strategy: Cook personally cements relationships with key partners while introducing Ternus to them in an informal, memorable setting. Cook had first met Pikachu in September 2025 during a trip to Japan for the reopening of Apple Ginza in Tokyo. This visit aligns with the Pokémon World Championship 2026, which ran in San Francisco from August 28 through August 30 and included four competition categories: Pokémon Video Game Championships, Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE.
Gaming partnerships amid mobile revenue decline
The high-profile visit signals Apple’s commitment to one of gaming’s largest franchises during a period of softening mobile revenue. Sensor Tower reported that mobile gaming revenue declined 4.5 percent year over year in Q2 2026; Apple CFO Kevan Parekh cited “headwinds in mobile gaming” as a factor affecting App Store performance during the Q3 2026 earnings call. The Pokémon Company’s system on Apple’s platforms, Pokémon GO, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokémon Champions, represents substantial engagement and App Store revenue.
