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The official logo for the Pokémon franchise internationally
As is customary for Nintendo, overnight fans of Pokémon were surprised by the sudden announcement of a Pokémon Direct scheduled for 3pm British time today, with the promise of news of “future entries in the franchise”. Lasting just 8 minutes, the Pokémon Direct was a short and sweet affair, making three major announcements without going into detail about any of them – but here’s a summary of what we DID see.
Pokkén Tournament DX
As many people likely expected, Nintendo is bringing a Pokémon game to the Switch, although it’s not a main series RPG as many had hoped. Following in the footsteps of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, another of the most popular games on the Wii U, Pokkén Tournament, is coming to the Switch in an upgraded form. Pokkén Tournament DX will be bringing the popular Tekken-inspired Pokémon beat-em-up to the Switch on September 22, 2017, augmenting the original 14-Pokémon cast (and two additional alternative forms) with additional characters such as Darkrai, Scizor, Empoleon, Croagunk, and Decidueye. Three-on-three team battles are also being introduced to the DX release, alongside online ranked matches and friend-only group fights.
Gold and Silver on Virtual Console
On the same day, Nintendo will also be re-releasing the second generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Gold and Silver, to the 3DS Virtual Console. The last Pokémon games before the modern GBA and DS era, Gold and Silver allowed players to traverse both Kanto and Johto on their hunt to catch all 251 Pokémon across both regions and beat the 16 gyms. Famously remade for the DS as HeartGold and SoulSilver with many enhancements, the original games will now be re-introduced to the modern generation as eShop exclusives on September 22, 2017; and like the Red, Blue and Yellow Virtual Console releases, will also support Pokémon Bank, allowing you to import your Pokémon into Sun and Moon to bring them to the latest Generation. Check out the announcement trailer below:
Unlike the original games, there is no word yet as to whether transfers between the Red/Blue/Yellow VC releases and that of Gold and Silver will be possible – but we wouldn’t put it past Nintendo to have thought of this too, so watch this space for updates.
Ultra Sun and Moon
Perhaps the biggest announcement of all though is the reveal of the next main series titles. On November 17, 2017 Nintendo will release to Pokémon fans worldwide Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon, promising new monsters not found in the original releases and a different story, along with new features that, according to the video, “will allow you to enjoy your adventure even more, making this truly an ‘ultra’ title”. Details were scarce, with only ten seconds of footage shown, but there is a strong suggestion that the new titles will be a sequel/upgrade to the current generation Sun and Moon games, in a similar fashion to how Pokémon Black and White were later followed up by Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 (commonly referred to by fans as Black 2 and White 2).
No doubt by now you’ll be wanting to watch these other announcements yourself as well, so enjoy the official announcement trailer below; and don’t forget to check back here for all your latest Pokémon and other gaming news!
Pokémon GO has proven popular with nostalgic Android and iPhone users worldwide, and Niantic has shown a strong willingness to maintain that popularity with special events, daily rewards and other updates – but for many players, one thing has held back the game’s fun. With the game’s Pokédex currently limited only to Pokémon from the original crop of 151 First-Generation species (and no Legendaries or Ditto), many Players have already exhausted all there is to catch. However, there’s evidence this is finally about to change.
Data miners from The Silph Road, looking at the most recent v0.45.0 release of Pokémon GO on Android, claim to have found references to the names of all 100 Pokémon from the franchise’s Second Generation – from Chikorita to Celebi. However, while the Pokémon may be referenced, the game currently lacks models for the additional 100 Pokémon or any data for their movesets, suggesting that a full Johto-flavoured update is still a while away.
There may be one Pokémon coming in even sooner though: Ditto. The only non-legendary from the first 151 not available in-game, Ditto has so far been held back from Pokémon GO due its single attack, Transform. After all, coding a Pokémon that can transform into other Pokémon is a tough job. However, v0.45.0 introduces new code for the move, complete with its own in-battle animation, suggesting that Niantic may be planning to introduce Ditto’s special move – and possibly Ditto itself – very soon. If so, it would mark the first new move since the game’s release.
Would the introduction of Johto-era Pokémon to Pokémon GO excite you? And what about Ditto? Sound off on the Forum!
The Japanese magazine “CoroCoro” has become so associated in the west with Pokémon news, that one merely needs to say “CoroCoro” and Pokémon fans flock to see what else has just been revealed about the next games in the series. Thus it comes as no surprise that with the most recent issue now out in Japan, once more we bring you new details about things coming to Pokémon Sun and Moon.
New Pokémon
Let’s start with the new faces, since that’s what all new generations are about anyway. This month, CoroCoro have pictures for four new Alolan Pokémon, including one that’s a pre-evolution of another recent reveal. Currently known by its Japanese name “Nuikoguma”, this cute bear with the pink face is a pre-evolution of the previously-revealed (and rather funnily-named) Bewear. A Normal/Fighting type like its bigger brother, Nuikoguma is very popular among women and children, and tops the lists of Pokémon people want to meet. It hates being touched and will kick and struggle to resist. It’s also described as being very powerful, and it only becomes more so when it evolves into the “herculean” Bewear.
Both Bewear and this new pre-evolution are shown on the bottom of the page you see on your left, but what are those rather creepy-looking things above them? “Creepy” is the right word indeed. These two Ghost/Ground-type Pokémon are basically haunted sandcastles. Shirodesuna – the bigger one – steals the life force from other Pokémon, in a style not dissimilar to the Gengar family I love so dearly. Whatever grudges that Pokémon had then get turned into Sunaba – the smaller one – which is Shirodesuna’s pre-evolution. Sand that becomes sentient from angry spirits… yeah, that’s pretty creepy if you ask me.
The other new Pokémon reveal is the little fishy to your right, currently known as Yowashi. Capable of fighting on its own in “Single Form”, it also has a special form called the “School Form” where it turns dark and gathers lots of itself together, to create a far larger and rather monstrous-looking fish. Unsurprisingly, it is a Water-type Pokémon.
New Alolan Forms!
As well as the new Pokémon, Meowth is getting a makeover. In Alola, Meowth were bred by the ruling Royal Family; as a result, they have become far more pampered and regal-looking. For some reason, they’ve also turned grey, and now class as Dark-type Pokémon. Also getting a new Alolan form is Marowak, who to protect from the island’s native predators, has learned to wield a ghostly flame to resist them. This flame now lights up both sides of its traditional Bonemerang, and turns the Alolan Marowak into a Fire/Ghost type himself. Both are pictured to the left of the Alolan Exeggutor, revealed a month or so ago.
Other Stuff!
CoroCoro also has hints to the Alolan region’s villainous team. Currently known as Team Skull, it is suggested the team may be Pirate-themed; and is headed by a boss currently known as “Guzma”, while there appears to be many female members including a woman currently known as “Plumeri”.
More information is hinted to be revealed next week, including a hint to a “secret evolution” of Rockruff. We’ll have more as it gets revealed, but until then, as always, you can join our Forum or Discord to have your say on what you think of the new reveals.
Update: Nintendo have pushed out a new English-language Trailer showing off the CoroCoro-leaked information. Watch it here:
