(Image via The Pokémon Company)

Staff Writer: Brian Galindo

Email: bgalindo@umassd.edu

Pokémon is a franchise that needs no introduction. It is one of the most popular franchises in the world and has more than its fair share of fans on campus.

On February 27th of each year, fans, and occasionally the company itself, celebrate the release date anniversary of the original Pokémon Red and Green in Japan. This day has been dubbed Pokémon Day.

This year, for Pokémon Day, The Pokémon Company’s official YouTube channel held a special Pokémon Presents. 

For those who don’t know, Pokémon Presents (formerly Pokémon Direct) is a live-streamed set of videos announcing news in the Pokémon series, with The Pokémon Company workers occasionally breaking off from the videos to add new information.

Following a short intro animation, the stream began with The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara and COO Takato Utsunomiya, each giving a brief introduction before getting right into the news.

The first announcement was that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the most recent games in the series, would receive three special Tera Raid events involving unique versions of the original three starters, Venusaur, Blastoise, and Charizard.

Next, they announced three new Pokémon, Charcadet, Armarouge, and Ceruledge, would be coming to Pokémon GO, the popular mobile game. They also revealed that a special Pikachu, wearing Cap’s Hat from the Pokémon Horizons anime, would also be available.

Their following announcement involved the mobile app Pokémon Sleep, revealing new creatures available there as well. The legendary Pokémon Entei, Raikou, and Suicune are coming to Pokémon Sleep.

Their third mobile app announcement involved the game Pokémon Masters EX. To celebrate their release four and half years ago, two new trainer and Pokémon pairs were announced: Geeta and Glimmora from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Silver and Tyranitar from the Johto games.

Next on their list was Pokémon Café Remix, another mobile app, though unlike the past few, this game is also available on Nintendo Switch. They announced a myriad of goodies for the game related to the newest generation, from Gimmighoul Coins to the legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon.

Last on their list of announcements related to existing titles was Pokémon Unite, the online real-time battle arena game available on mobile and Nintendo Switch. They announced three new combatants for this one: Miraidon, Falinks, and Ceruledge.

The latter half of the stream was filled with announcing two new upcoming titles: another mobile app and another mainline Pokémon game. 

First was the mobile app, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. 

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) is among the franchise’s most popular aspects. Whether you are just a collector or a fan of competitive TCG, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has a lot of cool and unique elements.

The app collaborates with The Pokémon Company, Creatures, and DeNA. Creatures is the company in charge of TCG, and DeNA is the company in charge of Pokémon Masters EX.

As part of the game, you can open two TCG booster packs daily at no cost. No in-app purchases have been confirmed, so whether there will be a way to open more is uncertain as of yet.

The cards can be traded with friends, and battles will be run in a more streamlined version of the official TCG ruleset. This goal is to have easy access to quick games with friends.

Yuji Kitano, the CEO and President of Creatures explained another aspect of the app that is unique to it. He talked about its art direction, specifically how it differs from the traditional TCG creative process.

“Since this game uses mobile devices rather than paper, we’re challenging ourselves to express that care in new ways that are only possible digitally,” explained Kitano. “One way we’re accomplishing this is with immersive cards, which give players the experience of leaping into the world of the card illustration.”

Immersive cards will surely excite TCG fans, especially those who enjoy collecting. Those who enjoy battling might also be excited to learn the new rules for quicker play. Such rules may help attract new players to the more expansive ones later down the line.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is set to be released in 2024. The stream promised to keep fans updated with information as it became available.

The last part of the stream was a short video announcing the next major title in the Pokémon series. With all the mentions of Johto during the stream, many expected a game set place within the Johto region. 

What they actually announced was different from what anyone expected.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a new entry in the Pokémon Legends series, set to release simultaneously worldwide in 2025.

Set entirely within Kalos’ capital, Lumiose City, the game follows a plan for “Urban Redevelopment.” 

“A vision of beautiful coexistence between people and Pokémon…”

The trailer ends with the symbol for Mega Evolution, a feature that originated in the original Kalos games, Pokémon X and Y. Mega Evolution hasn’t been available in a Pokémon game (except for Pokémon GO) in over five years.

This is all the information currently available about the game. With so little to work with, fans are excited, and the internet is running amok with theories.

The Pokémon Legends series is known for having time-travel shenanigans, with its only other title, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, following a trainer transported to the distant past. This fact has fans wondering when Pokémon Legends: Z-A will take place.

Furthermore, Pokémon X and Y were the only games in the series that did not receive any sort of follow-up game (or downloadable content, which has recently replaced follow-up games since the rise of the Switch). This lack of past content means Kalos has plenty of potential for resolving old plot points, whether directly or indirectly.

All this to say, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is building up a lot of hype. Whether it will live up to the hype is yet to be seen, but with the amount of time until its release, hopefully, The Pokémon Company will be able to produce a game that people will enjoy for years to come.

Following the announcement of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the stream came to a close. With all these new announcements, Pokémon fans of all kinds are surely excited to see what happens going forward with the franchise.

Interested in reading more about Pokémon? Check the article No, Palworld isn’t Copyright Infringing Pokémon, published earlier this year.