2026 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the launch of the Pokémon sequence in Japan.
On February 27, 1996, Pokémon Pink model and Inexperienced model have been launched within the nation, after which later in the remainder of the world as Pokémon Pink model and Blue model.
Since then, dozens of Pokémon video games have launched, spanning a number of platform generations, and over 1000 creatures. Now, as we method the thirtieth anniversary, and Pokémon finds itself coming to the top of its ninth era, Nintendo’s new {hardware} seems like the proper place to debut “Gen 10”.
Nintendo confirmed earlier this month that it’ll announce its subsequent console “this fiscal yr”, which means the Swap’s successor might be revealed by the top of March 2025 on the newest.
We will infer a number of issues. On the time of writing, the following Pokémon recreation to be launched might be Pokémon Legends ZA, which, barring an out-of-nowhere remake announcement, will imply that 2024 goes with no mainline launch.
That is uncommon, however not unprecedented. Following the same old cadence of releases, Pokémon’s subsequent era of mainline titles can be launched in 2025, three years on from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
The presence of Pokémon Legends ZA in 2025 might make that appear crowded, however the first recreation within the spinoff sequence, Pokémon Legends Arceus, was launched in 2022, the identical yr as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Nonetheless, I feel that The Pokémon Firm will break this custom in favor of launching the tenth era of video games on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Not solely will it make for the simplest advertising and marketing tie-in of all time, throughout what’s already more likely to be an absolute deluge of Pokémon celebration, however it additionally provides the video games an opportunity to debut with a splash, one thing the sequence wants.
Most will overlook, however when the Pokémon franchise begun, the video games have been technical powerhouses. Recreation Freak even drafted within the late Saturo Iwata to assist with the event of the primary video games, such was the ambition of the younger Recreation Freak crew.
Nevertheless it’s protected to say that within the years since Pokemon’s fame for technical and graphical efficiency has hardly been glowing. When Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have been launched, whereas some, together with myself, praised the sport’s open-world method to Pokémon , its non-linear development, and creature design, the dialog surrounding the sport was targeted on one thing else fully.
It was troublesome to open social media with out being overwhelmed with gifs and movies of characters falling by means of the world, morphing in horrifying methods, and body charges plummeting. It landed what’s in any other case a wonderful Pokémon recreation with a harsh, if fully justified fame. Kicking off a brand new era of brand-new {hardware} is a chance to vary the dialog round Recreation Freak.
The apparent argument towards that is the sheer quantity of Nintendo Swap consoles which might be in the marketplace, and, the general Pokémon machine’s must run synchronously throughout anime, video video games, and buying and selling playing cards.
The three-year cadence isn’t only for Recreation Freak, it’s in order that the massively well-liked buying and selling card recreation can have units out that includes the brand new Pokémon not too lengthy after launch. It’s in order that the anime can begin incorporating new creatures as a advertising and marketing alternative.
It has been speculated by followers that this inflexible construction signifies that the video video games have been, at instances, compelled to be launched no matter if they’re prepared or not, in order to not interrupt the march of synergy. In truth, issues are so tightly aligned throughout the assorted masters that Pokémon has to serve, that previously, Pokémon that haven’t even debuted within the video games but have been spoiled by way of buying and selling card art work.
If a recreation have been to slide six months down the highway, we’d probably see a state of affairs the place an entire Pokedex value of Pokémon will get leaked forward of an official announcement.
There’s completely little question we’ll see a brand new Pokémon recreation in 2026, and regardless of the groans from the fan base each time the topic of Era 1 is introduced up, it’s greater than probably we’ll revisit Kanto to rejoice the birthday.
The way in which to melt that blow is to point out followers a Pokémon recreation utilizing the complete would possibly of the Swap 2’s {hardware} and take that further yr on the cycle to win again some goodwill.
The Pokémon Firm is on a inflexible cycle, however an anniversary and a brand new piece of {hardware} is strictly the excuse, in the event that they wanted one, to interrupt it.
The Nintendo Swap is already probably the most profitable platform in historical past for the Pokémon sequence, being house to each Era 8 and 9. Whereas there’s the apparent enterprise argument of launching Era 10 on what’s more likely to someday develop into the best-selling console ever, I’d be massively dissatisfied.
And I don’t suppose I’d be alone. Pokémon is the most important franchise within the historical past of media for a motive, the loyalty that Pokémon followers have proven for 30 years is unparalleled. The fan base is sick to demise of getting video games that present promise, but in addition really feel rushed, or are stuffed with technical points. With Era 10, let’s return to the period when Pokémon actually flexed its muscle tissues.
I’m not asking for all 1000+ Pokémon in a single area, I simply need a area that I don’t fall by means of the ground of.
