Pokémon Skipping 2024 Is a Good Thing
It’s a testament to the state of a video game series when fans are relieved to hear that the next game is coming later than expected. This week, the Pokémon community breathed a collective sigh of relief after Game Freak and The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Legends: Z-A, slated for release in 2025. This much-needed break for Pokémon ends a streak of eight consecutive years of new mainline content.
Pokémon: All Mainline Games
Since 2016, the release schedule for Pokémon has been relentless, with a new game launching almost annually. Here’s a timeline of the mainline Pokémon releases:
- 2016: Sun & Moon
- 2017: Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
- 2018: Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee!
- 2019: Sword & Shield
- 2020: Sword & Shield DLC
- 2021: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
- 2022: Legends: Arceus and Scarlet & Violet
- 2023: Scarlet & Violet DLC
This rapid cadence has shown signs of unsustainability, with the ambitious releases of 2022 – Legends: Arceus and Scarlet & Violet – facing significant criticism for their technical shortcomings. Scarlet & Violet, in particular, faced widespread backlash due to its poor performance, leading to an apology from Nintendo, a rare occurrence for the company.
What Does the “Legends” Branding Actually Mean?
Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a game that deviates from the traditional Pokémon formula, was a breath of fresh air for many fans. The focus shifted from gym battles and the Elite Four to exploration and catching Pokémon, offering a new and engaging experience. The announcement of Legends: Z-A, a continuation of this subseries, was met with excitement.
However, the details about Z-A raise questions about its relationship to Arceus. Z-A’s setting, Lumiose City in the Kalos region, and its focus on urban redevelopment contrast sharply with the exploration of nature in Arceus. This begs the question: Is Legends a separate brand, with each entry exploring different regions and timelines? Or will Z-A incorporate elements from Arceus’ gameplay while exploring a different environment? Time will tell, but either way, the prospect of Game Freak experimenting with new approaches to Pokémon is exciting.
What About Unova?
With the announcement of Z-A, many fans were left wondering about the future of a potential Unova remake. The Unova region, introduced in Gen 5’s Black & White games, has been absent from recent remakes. Game Freak’s decision to skip Unova and jump directly to the Kalos region of Gen 6 in Z-A has fueled speculation about the possibility of a remake in the future.
The outsourcing of Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl to developer ILCA suggests that The Pokémon Company is open to assigning remake projects to external studios. A future Unova remake, perhaps handled by ILCA or another developer, remains a possibility. The wait for a return to Unova may continue, but it seems likely that the region will be revisited in the coming years.
No, Not Everything Is a Nintendo Switch 2 Hint
The internet is rife with speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2, and any piece of information is quickly scrutinized for clues. The “simultaneous” worldwide release of Legends: Z-A in 2025 for “Nintendo Switch systems” has fueled rumors of a cross-gen release.
However, it’s unlikely that Nintendo or The Pokémon Company would confirm the existence of Switch 2 before an official announcement. Nintendo is meticulous with its marketing, and the wording used in the Z-A announcement is consistent with past releases. The phrase “Nintendo Switch systems” is commonly used to refer to the Switch, OLED, and Lite, indicating that the announcement doesn’t hint at unannounced hardware. Additionally, Pokémon has historically waited a year or two before releasing new games on a new Nintendo console. Therefore, the 2025 release of Z-A doesn’t reveal anything definitive about Switch 2.
The more interesting aspect of Z-A’s release window is its potential impact on Nintendo’s 2024 lineup. With a possible Switch 2 launch in 2025, Nintendo’s holiday slate for 2024 seems relatively light. Pokémon is usually a staple of Nintendo’s holiday releases, but its absence in 2024 leaves room for other titles to take center stage. Will we finally see the release of Metroid Prime 4 or remakes of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess? Or will Nintendo surprise us with a completely new game? The wait for answers continues, but it’s safe to say that Nintendo has at least one unannounced game in store for the holiday season, and the anticipation is high.
The decision to skip 2024 and focus on a later release for Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a welcome change. It allows Game Freak to take its time and deliver a polished product, addressing the concerns raised by previous releases. While the wait may be frustrating, it’s ultimately a positive step for the future of Pokémon.
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