The announcement of these new titles came during Pokemon Day 2022’s Pokemon Presents, when the company announced that these Game Freak-developed games will feature a new region and its three new starter Pokemon, too. As you’d expect, the world has already lost its mind about the three new starters (that follow the age-old Pokemon formula, Type-wise). You will be able to choose either the Grass Cat Sprigatito, the Fire Croc Fuecoco, or the Water Duckling Quaxly. Sprigatito has the Overgrow ability and – like most kittens – is “capricious” and “attention-seeking.” Fuecoco the Fire Croc (seemingly also an apple?) has the Blaze ability and “does things at its own pace.” Quaxly, the clear nerd of the group, is “earnest and tidy”. The games will seemingly be a bit of a departure from what we’re used to; Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are described by the developer as an “evolutionary” step forward for Pokemon (no pun intended, we’re sure). Seemingly coming off the back of what was established in the Wild Zone in Sword and Shield, this new duo of games will boast an “open world where various towns with no borders blend seamlessly into the wilderness.” Per the reveal, “Pokemon can be seen everywhere in this wide-open world - in the skies, in the sea, and on the streets.” We don’t know an awful lot about the differences between versions yet (if past games are anything to go by, we can likely expect version-exclusive Pokemon, locations and trainers), but Game Freak has noted that Trainers will “have a different outfit depending on which game they are playing.” The new Generation of games – taking us up to Gen 9, if you’re counting – will be set in a region that is very reminiscent of Spain and Portugal, with some clear notes to the real-life locations being made in the trailer. Whether it’s the suspiciously Sagrada Familia-looking building seen near the end of the trailer, or the a Pikachu in what looks like Park Güell, it’s clear we’re heading back to Europe, once again, in this new Pokemon adventure.
