If you were following our Twitter last night, you'll know we received a massive amount of Pokémon news. The Pokémon Company, along with their development partners, held a massive press conference in Japan, which revealed details about the Pokémon game for Nintendo Switch and a new Pokémon spin-off game.
ALOLAN EXEGGUTOR: As a celebration of the announcement, Alolan Exeggutor is now spawning in Pokémon GO. It is spawning at crazy rates all over the world, but we have no idea how long this will last. Niantic also did not reveal any information about the other Alolan forms.
POKÉMON QUEST: Pokémon Quest is a new spin-off game that is available right now on the Nintendo Switch's eShop. It will become available on mobile platforms at the end of next month. Quest is free to download, although there are in-game purchases. It seems that this game, which is done in a block-based art style (similar to Roblox and Minecraft), is targeted towards children.
POKÉ BALL PLUS: The Poké Ball Plus device is a new accessory for Pokémon GO and the next main-series Pokémon games (see below). It, along with those games, will release on Friday, November 16, 2018. This device functions as a combination of the Pokémon GO Plus, the PokéWalker from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the Joy-Con of the Nintendo Switch.
The device seems like it will be a good GO Plus alternative for those who plan on playing the main-series games as well (again, more details below). Although, the battery will only last for a disappointingly-short three hours, which may be a sales-killer. For more details, check out the Nintendo website.
LET'S GO, PIKACHU / EEVEE!: The rumors were true! The next main-series games will be called Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE). These games seem to be a hybrid of Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition and Pokémon GO, and likely still classified as Generation 7 games. Again, these are main-series titles, but not the ones promised in 2017's E3 event. Here are further details about the games:
2019 GAME: We know that many of the hardcore, main-series Pokémon fans are dissatisfied with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! because of their Pokémon GO integration / inspiration. Worry not, as the Pokémon officials also announced another main-series game for the Switch (one more along the traditional line of Pokémon X and Pokémon Ultra Moon) will release in the second half of 2019.
A MYSTERIOUS POKÉMON: While Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! may be limited to the original 151 Pokémon, and Pokémon GO to the first three generations, a new Pokémon will soon appear. It has been confirmed that LGPE will feature one new Pokémon that has never been seen before. At the end of the LGPE trailer, the Pokémon is implied to be also available in Pokémon GO.
POKÉMON GO SAFARI ZONE: Following the craziness of last night's announcements, Niantic unveiled new details about the upcoming Safari Zone event in Dortmund, Germany, this morning. They are as follows:
Thanks for reading, Trainers! Our Alolan Persian analysis for our Pokémon GO readers is scheduled to come out tomorrow.
ALOLAN EXEGGUTOR: As a celebration of the announcement, Alolan Exeggutor is now spawning in Pokémon GO. It is spawning at crazy rates all over the world, but we have no idea how long this will last. Niantic also did not reveal any information about the other Alolan forms.
POKÉMON QUEST: Pokémon Quest is a new spin-off game that is available right now on the Nintendo Switch's eShop. It will become available on mobile platforms at the end of next month. Quest is free to download, although there are in-game purchases. It seems that this game, which is done in a block-based art style (similar to Roblox and Minecraft), is targeted towards children.
POKÉ BALL PLUS: The Poké Ball Plus device is a new accessory for Pokémon GO and the next main-series Pokémon games (see below). It, along with those games, will release on Friday, November 16, 2018. This device functions as a combination of the Pokémon GO Plus, the PokéWalker from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and the Joy-Con of the Nintendo Switch.
The device seems like it will be a good GO Plus alternative for those who plan on playing the main-series games as well (again, more details below). Although, the battery will only last for a disappointingly-short three hours, which may be a sales-killer. For more details, check out the Nintendo website.
LET'S GO, PIKACHU / EEVEE!: The rumors were true! The next main-series games will be called Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! (LGPE). These games seem to be a hybrid of Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition and Pokémon GO, and likely still classified as Generation 7 games. Again, these are main-series titles, but not the ones promised in 2017's E3 event. Here are further details about the games:
- LGPE takes place in the Kanto region. Unlike Pokémon Gold, Silver, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, we will be unable to visit both the Kanto and Johto regions.
- The games only feature the original 151 Pokémon, plus their Alolan variants. Evolutions of those Pokémon (such as Pichu, Tangrowth, Kingdra, Electivire, etc) seem to not be included.
- Kanto Pokémon caught in Pokémon GO can be transferred to Let's Go's GO Park after completing approximately half of the game's story. Think carefully before you send a Pokémon over, as they cannot come back into Pokémon GO.
- It is unclear at this time if LGPE will be compatible with Pokémon Bank or the future Pokémon games on the Switch.
- You will receive a Pikachu or Eevee as your starting Pokémon, depending on your version. The starter Pokémon can not evolve into Raichu, Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon, but wild-caught Pikachu and Eevee can.
- You starter Pokémon can be dressed up in a costume. It is unclear if you are able to customize your Trainer avatar in a similar manner.
- The battle system in LGPE works like the previous main-series games, much to the relief of fans.
- Leveling-up and training Pokémon has been simplified, although we don't have any details on exactly how.
- Catching Pokémon works just like in Pokémon GO, meaning there are no more battles with wild Pokémon.
- LGPE were designed to appeal to all types of Pokémon fans (new and old, casual and extreme, core and GO). With that said, the focus of the games were to bring more casual fans into the mainstream games.
- It is unclear if Z-Moves or Mega Evolutions will return in these games or not.
- HMs will not return in LGPE, but will be replaced with a new form of the Alola region's PokéRide feature. While it is unclear what the exact definition of the phrase is at this time, any Pokémon large enough can be rode upon.
- Pokémon will again follow you around in the overworld. Your starter Pokémon will forever be found on your shoulder or head if they are in your party.
- The box of your spare Pokémon is now accessible in your Bag, just as in Pokémon GO. You are no longer limited to a Pokémon Center's PC to access your not-in-party Pokémon.
- The two versions will have differences, but only in the selection of Pokémon available. No plot-based story differences were reported.
- Trading and online battling are, after much confusion, available. However, online ranked battles do not return, much to the disappointment of competitive players.
- The game can have multiple save files. The game can also be played with a friend using the second Joy-Con, as LGPE only requires one Joy-Con to play.
2019 GAME: We know that many of the hardcore, main-series Pokémon fans are dissatisfied with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! because of their Pokémon GO integration / inspiration. Worry not, as the Pokémon officials also announced another main-series game for the Switch (one more along the traditional line of Pokémon X and Pokémon Ultra Moon) will release in the second half of 2019.
A MYSTERIOUS POKÉMON: While Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! may be limited to the original 151 Pokémon, and Pokémon GO to the first three generations, a new Pokémon will soon appear. It has been confirmed that LGPE will feature one new Pokémon that has never been seen before. At the end of the LGPE trailer, the Pokémon is implied to be also available in Pokémon GO.
POKÉMON GO SAFARI ZONE: Following the craziness of last night's announcements, Niantic unveiled new details about the upcoming Safari Zone event in Dortmund, Germany, this morning. They are as follows:
- Lure Modules will be active for the duration of the event.
- Special 2KM Eggs will be coming out of PokéStops.
- Spawns of special Pokémon, specifically Unown and Corsola, will occur.
- Westfalenpark will not have Gyms or Raid Battles inside of it. "Powerful Raid Bosses" will still be featured in Dortmund, but outside of the park.
- The park will have team lounges, charging stations, food vendors, giveaways, and a photo-op with Pikachu.
Thanks for reading, Trainers! Our Alolan Persian analysis for our Pokémon GO readers is scheduled to come out tomorrow.
SOURCE: The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Niantic, Serebii, IGN