Generation 3's basics were recently discovered in the game's code after the latest update. The community has come to the consensus that the Hoenn region's Pokémon will be released, but the community seems very split on when that will happen. This article will give you PNN's perspective and those of differing outlets, so lets begin.
PNN's PREDICTION: In our opinion, Gen 3 will come out late September. We still need our third major update for this year, which must come out (according to Niantic's schedule) before October, so it makes sense Niantic will cram the update in at the last minute.
MYSTIC7's PREDICTION: MYSTIC7 made a video yesterday saying that he expected Gen 3 to be released in spring of 2018, about the time Gen 2 was. MYSTIC considers Legendary Pokémon as the year's third major update (for clarity, we consider Lugia and the Birds as Raid-based events, but more on that later). He also believes that Niantic wouldn't release new Pokémon in the Northern Hemisphere's fall and winter months, so it would be delayed until spring.
TRAINER TIP's PREDICTION: Nick has been very vocal about wanting a rework to the battle system (meaning the addition of Abilities, weather, terrain, status effects, and secondary effects for moves). He has said, ideally, we get a battle system rework before or along with Gen 3. In any case, he expects the new Pokémon to come out before 2018.
REVERSAL's PREDICTION: Reversal shares PNN's general prediction that Generation 3 will be released soon. Reversal says Gen 3 will come out shortly after Mewtwo and Exclusive Raids.
PAST TRENDS: We first saw signs of Generation 2 three months before the release of the new Pokémon. Even with Raids, we had a sneak peek. So, looking at the past, it does make sense that Gen 3 may be at least one month away. That said, Niantic's long holiday break was included in this time, so it seems sensible to say that they were delayed on their Gen 2 release schedule.
WHAT ABOUT LEGENDARIES: Legendaries being the third update of the year just doesn't make sense. Think about it. Having 11 new Pokémon, no matter how Legendary or Mythical, is just not a major update. No new items (such as the Master Ball) were introduced with them. They were a limited-time-only thing, making them more like events. And the fact that we've had no new in-game events since the GO Fest bonuses ended only further supports that Niantic is treating them as an event.
MYSTIC7's SPRINGTIME PREDICTION AND NICK's BATTLE-REWORK HOPES: MYSTIC7's springtime prediction, respectfully, doesn't seem logical. The autumn season may not be as comfortable as spring and summer, but it isn't unbearable in most places. Niantic has said that the don't plan to update the Gym system (sorry, Nick) this year in an interview with GO Hub. With nothing else on the horizon right now, Generation 3 might be the only new content this year before something like trading or breeding in the late-fall and early-winter months.
WHAT IS STILL AVAILABLE BEFORE GENERATION 3: Mewtwo, Mew, Smeargle, Celebi, Ho-Oh, Delibird, Entei, Suicune, and Raikou are all still unreleased. On top of that, we still have the Shiny forms for every family except for Pikachu and Magikarp.
You can never really predict just what Niantic is going to do. We thought Gen 2 was coming in 2016, Ho-Oh would be released at Pokémon GO Stadium, etc. We'll just have to see what Niantic's going to do with Generation 3.
PNN's PREDICTION: In our opinion, Gen 3 will come out late September. We still need our third major update for this year, which must come out (according to Niantic's schedule) before October, so it makes sense Niantic will cram the update in at the last minute.
MYSTIC7's PREDICTION: MYSTIC7 made a video yesterday saying that he expected Gen 3 to be released in spring of 2018, about the time Gen 2 was. MYSTIC considers Legendary Pokémon as the year's third major update (for clarity, we consider Lugia and the Birds as Raid-based events, but more on that later). He also believes that Niantic wouldn't release new Pokémon in the Northern Hemisphere's fall and winter months, so it would be delayed until spring.
TRAINER TIP's PREDICTION: Nick has been very vocal about wanting a rework to the battle system (meaning the addition of Abilities, weather, terrain, status effects, and secondary effects for moves). He has said, ideally, we get a battle system rework before or along with Gen 3. In any case, he expects the new Pokémon to come out before 2018.
REVERSAL's PREDICTION: Reversal shares PNN's general prediction that Generation 3 will be released soon. Reversal says Gen 3 will come out shortly after Mewtwo and Exclusive Raids.
PAST TRENDS: We first saw signs of Generation 2 three months before the release of the new Pokémon. Even with Raids, we had a sneak peek. So, looking at the past, it does make sense that Gen 3 may be at least one month away. That said, Niantic's long holiday break was included in this time, so it seems sensible to say that they were delayed on their Gen 2 release schedule.
WHAT ABOUT LEGENDARIES: Legendaries being the third update of the year just doesn't make sense. Think about it. Having 11 new Pokémon, no matter how Legendary or Mythical, is just not a major update. No new items (such as the Master Ball) were introduced with them. They were a limited-time-only thing, making them more like events. And the fact that we've had no new in-game events since the GO Fest bonuses ended only further supports that Niantic is treating them as an event.
MYSTIC7's SPRINGTIME PREDICTION AND NICK's BATTLE-REWORK HOPES: MYSTIC7's springtime prediction, respectfully, doesn't seem logical. The autumn season may not be as comfortable as spring and summer, but it isn't unbearable in most places. Niantic has said that the don't plan to update the Gym system (sorry, Nick) this year in an interview with GO Hub. With nothing else on the horizon right now, Generation 3 might be the only new content this year before something like trading or breeding in the late-fall and early-winter months.
WHAT IS STILL AVAILABLE BEFORE GENERATION 3: Mewtwo, Mew, Smeargle, Celebi, Ho-Oh, Delibird, Entei, Suicune, and Raikou are all still unreleased. On top of that, we still have the Shiny forms for every family except for Pikachu and Magikarp.
You can never really predict just what Niantic is going to do. We thought Gen 2 was coming in 2016, Ho-Oh would be released at Pokémon GO Stadium, etc. We'll just have to see what Niantic's going to do with Generation 3.