New Pokémon game announced, will release late 2022
It seems releasing one Pokémon game early into 2022 is not enough for game developer Game Freak after announcing two more titles coming late this year.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet will be the first two games to be included in the 9th generation of Pokémon video games and will be released on the Nintendo Switch, as announced by The Pokémon Company in last week’s Pokémon Presents program.
Unlike the previous Pokémon Legends: Arceus spin-off, these two vibrant games will revert to offering two versions of the game. Scarlet and Violet will also mark an “evolutionary step” – featuring an open-world set-up that will allow users to explore the region. (Read: Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ stealthy open-world hits Switch in 2022)
In a trailer released on YouTube, the video clip showed in-game overhead footage of the new Pokémon region. According to the official announcement, this new region has “various towns (that) blend seamlessly into the wilderness with no borders”. From grassy plains to villages with palm trees, many fans speculate that such a setting may be inspired by the two major nations of the Iberian Peninsula – Portugal and Spain.
“You’ll be able to see the Pokémon of this region in the skies, in the seas, in the forests, on the streets—all over!” the statement said. “You’ll be able to experience the true joy of the Pokémon series—battling against wild Pokémon to catch them—now in an open-world game that players of any age can enjoy.”
Aside from the new setting, users will also meet the new Pokémon starters that will keep them company throughout their journey. First in line is Spirigatito, a grass-type cat that has the ability called Overgrow. The second is the fire-type crocodile Fuecoco, a laid-back Pokémon that has the ability called Blaze. Last but not least is Quaxly, a water-type duckling Pokémon that has the ability called Torrent.
Regarding the main characters, outfits will vary depending on the game you choose, Scarlet or Violet, but will only differ in color and not style.
As for the Pokémon roster, early reports state that the full Pokedex line-up will not be included in the two games; following the footsteps of its predecessor Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.
Although it is currently still a rumor, reports from Serebii.net suggest that users “can only put the specific Pokémon available within Pokémon Scarlet & Violet into it through Pokémon HOME indicating not all Pokémon may be coded within.”
For now, there are no concrete release dates for the games, but US and UK retailers are already taking pre-orders.
Spearheading the Generation 9 of the main series, Scarlet and Violet will be the 23rd title among the long list of Pokémon Main Series games. The line-up, which stretches back to 1998, first introduced Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue in Game Boy and has now come a long way, surpassing six Nintendo gaming consoles ever since.
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