It looks like the leaks were true- Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon were announced today during the Pokemon themed Nintendo Direct, as all new Pokemon games that will be launching this year, the year of Pokemon’s 20th anniversary. Nothing is known about these games except that they will be coming to Nintendo 3DS systems, and that they will be launching worldwide later this year- though it does appear as though they are set in an all new region, with all new locations and Pokemon, making this, officially, the seventh generation of Pokemon.
“The Pokemon core series games are the center of the Pokémon universe and provide some of the most memorable Pokemon moments for our fans,” said J.C. Smith, senior director of Consumer Marketing at The Pokemon Company International. “I can’t wait to see what fans think of the new adventures they’ll find in Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon.”
Nintendo also announced that the Virtual Console re-releases of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow (which will be made available at midnight tonight) will be compatible with Pokemon Sun and Moon via Pokemon Bank– ending the 16 year plus divide that has always separated the Pokemon games on the original Gameboy and Gameboy Color, and all the other titles in the series.
Pokemon Sun and Moon launch later this year on 3DS. Check out the announcement trailer for them below.