During the Pokémon Presents video presentation, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, revealed three new Pokémon titles coming to the Nintendo Switch in late 2021 and early 2022. These upcoming titles are Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus with all three taking players to the beautiful Sinnoh Region. There were also more details released on the hugely anticipated Pokémon Snap game. There are also several 25th Anniversary Celebration in-game events across current games, with Legendaries making an appearance in Pokémon GO, a special Max Raid Battle with Gigantamax Pikachu in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield and Golden Acorns available in Pokémon Café.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl take players to the beautiful Sinnoh Region where they are able to replay the original Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl stories that were first released in 2006 on the Nintendo DS. Both titles will be available in late 2021 and faithfully recreates the story and adventure of the originals while adding the easy-to-understand conveniences and up close and personal battle scenes that have proven popular in the more recent Pokémon titles.
Trainers will start their journey by choosing either Turtwig the Grass Type, Piplup the Water Type or Chimchar the Fire Type before setting out on an adventure that will lead them to encounter the Legendary Pokémon Dialga in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and the Legendary Pokémon Palkia in Pokémon Shining Pearl.
“Trainers caught their first Pokémon in 1996 and began an adventure that has lasted 25 years. Through eight regions, many different platforms, and countless Pokémon encounters, they have strived to be the very best,” said Mr. Ishihara. “We hope that fans of all ages will enjoy creating new memories while exploring the Sinnoh region in these new games.”
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus players head to a Sinnoh Region of a time long before that of the above games. It is a region that is rich in nature with the towering Mount Coronet at its centre and the whole land barely touched by human hands. Trainers from this long ago time will be able to study wild Pokémon in their natural habitats, learn their behaviours and catch them. They will also be able to battle wild Pokémon with their tame Pokémon by throwing the occupied Poké Ball at them, providing a new immersive gaming experience.
This adventure will begin by choosing from the Grass/Flying Type Rowlet, Cyndaquil the Fire Type or Oshawott the Water Type and from there it is up to players to explore the land and create the region’s first Pokédex.
During the presentation there were also new details revealed for the previously announced New Pokémon Snap. Rather than battling or collecting Pokémon players will take the role of a budding Pokémon photographer in the Lental region where they will work with Professor Mirror to photograph Pokémon in their natural environment.
Players will need to get photos of Pokémon showing different expressions and behaviours which can be helped by using different items and these photos will be scored based on expression, posture, size and position in the photo and behaviour.
Once a course is completed photos can be edited to adjust brightness, blur, zoom etc and saved to a personal album. There are also several online features that will allow players to share their photos with others around the world.
Pokémon Snap will arrive on 30th April 2021 Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will both arrive on the Switch in late 2021 while Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be available early next year. Be sure to log in to current Pokémon games to take part in the special 25th anniversary events.