It may have been well over two decades since Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version launched on the Game Boy Advance, but, much like many classic Pokémon titles, they are still remembered fondly to this day, with fans taking any opportunity to dive into the first installments in the third generation of the franchise.
Since their launch, Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version have already received remakes, titled Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which arrived on the Nintendo 3DS in 2014, and that is not to mention Pokémon Emerald Version, a third version of the game which launched two years later.
As such, it was a notable time for the Pokémon franchise, and, as mentioned, the love for Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version has far from dwindled, as they are expected to make yet another major return later this week.
With 2026 celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, it has been merchandise galore for fans, and this week is no exception. That is because The Pokémon Center has released music box dioramas and framed maps inspired by every region across Pokémon history. However, there is a catch, and it is probably one that you can already see coming.
That is because, despite being some of the best-looking merchandise around at the moment, these music box dioramas and framed maps are currently a Japan exclusive. However, if you do find yourself in Japan, or have a way of getting the items shipped to you, they are not collectibles that you will want to miss out on.
Set to go live on The Pokémon Center website on 12 November, these collectibles will focus on the “evolution of the Pokémon series” and will include stunning dioramas depicting locations from each region in the Pokémon franchise. They will also come alongside framed maps and paper crafts.
You can check out an example of the stunning merchandise here, and it is clear to see the amount of work that has gone into them. Fans will notice some iconic areas from the games, such as Route 1 and Route 3, and they even come alongside adorable figures of some iconic Pokémon, so you can definitely expect to see Pikachu pop up more than once. Not only will they make a stunning addition to your shelves, but they also double up as music boxes, so you can take a trip down memory lane with some iconic pieces of music.
As for the price, each diorama totals 12,100 yen, which is the equivalent to around $76. Whilst this is not cheap, these collectibles definitely seem worth it, as they also offer a music box accompaniment, framed maps, and paper crafts. However, as mentioned, they are all Japan exclusives for now, but we hope this will change in the future and will keep you updated.
So, if your favorite Pokémon entry has been commemorated with these stunning new pieces of merchandise, such as Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version, you may want to find out a way to get your hands on them.
