The Pokemon Company has announced the next mainline Pokemon games, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and while the announcement trailer offered up plenty of glimpses of what the duo will look like, several additional details have also been made available via the official Pokemon website.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are being billed as fully open world games that, according to Game Freak, can be enjoyed by “anyone from children to adults”. Interestingly, while the open world of Pokemon Legends: Arceus was divided into several discrete areas, in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the entire map is going to be one large, seamless open world. Much like Legends, players will be able to interact with, battle, and capture Pokemon in the world itself.
It’s also been confirmed that the protagonist’s appearance and clothing will differ based on which of the two versions you’re playing. Meanwhile, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will also feature support for Pokemon HOME, via an update following release, allowing you to bring in Pokemon from other titles. When exactly this update will go live remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, courtesy of Serebii, we also know what the three new starters – who were revealed in the announce trailer – will be called. There’s the Fire-type Fuecoco, a “laid-back” crocodile Pokemon; the Water-type Quaxly, an “earnest and tidy” ducklink; and the Grass-type Sprigatito, a “capricious and attention-seeking” cat Pokemon.
Screenshots of the game, captured from the announce trailer, have also been released. You can check them out below.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will launch for the Nintendo Switch in late 2022.