Nintendo has consistently released a new main seriesPokemongame every fall since 2016, but it looks as though 2020 will be different. Barring a surprising announcement from Nintendo or The Pokemon Company, it seems as thoughPokemonfans won’t have any new major releases to look forward to this year besidesPokemon Sleep, and so it stands to reason that many are wondering what’s next for the long-running franchise.
As it so happens, there are numerous directions that Nintendo andThe Pokemon Companycould go with the nextPokemongames. It’s possible that the next bigPokemongame releases will be something completely unexpected, but the games listed here seem like the safest bets.
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Here are some of the most likely possibilities when it comes to newPokemongames.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Remakes
Ever since the release ofPokemon FireRedandLeafGreenin 2004,Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company have consistently remade eachPokemongeneration for newer platforms. The latest set of remakes, not counting theLet’s Gogames, wereOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphireon the 3DS in 2014. There’s been about five years between each of thePokemonremakes, soPokemonfans are technically overdue forDiamondandPearlremakes.
Pokemon DiamondandPearlmarked the franchise’s debut on the Nintendo DS, and they launched with a number of improvements and innovations for the franchise. Some aspects ofDiamondandPearlmay not have aged particularly well, but those issues could be ironed out in remakes. Out of all the possibilities listed here, it seems as thoughDiamondandPearlremakes are the most likely possibilities, especially sinceTime DiamondandSpace Pearltitlesleaked alongsidePokemon SwordandShieldback in 2017.
Pokemon Let’s Go Gold and Silver
Pokemon GOremains a juggernaut in the mobile gaming space, standing as one of the most consistently popular mobile games ever made. It’s no surprise that Game Freak wanted to capitalize onPokemon GO’s success, and it did so withPokemon Let’s Go PikachuandLet’s Go Eevee, which recreated the originalPokemongames with updated graphics and morePokemon GO-style gameplay. While not everyone was a fan of this style ofPokemongame, it does have its appeal, and many would be excited to see the Johto region games,GoldandSilver, get a similar treatment down the line. If nothing else, theseLet’s Gogames could help fill the gap between proper newPokemonreleases.
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Pokemon Spin-Off Game
There have been countlessPokemonspin-off games released over the years, withPokemon Sleepnext up. It could be that a newPokemonspin-off game will be the next title for fans of the franchise to look forward to, though it remains to be seen what form it will take. Perhaps it will take its cues from the popularPokemon SnapandStadiumgames on the Nintendo 64. Or maybe it will be a sequel to otherPokemonspin-off games. Alternatively, it could be a brand new concept usingPokemonthat fans haven’t even thought of yet. The possibilities are endless, and such a game could wind up on the Nintendo Switch or even mobile devices.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Sequels
For years, Nintendo and Game Freak would release a “third” game to go along with the pair ofPokemontitles it would release for any given generation. This third entry would be largely the same experience, albeit with some improvements and new gameplay features to make the return trip worthwhile. This tradition stopped with the release ofPokemon Black 2andWhite 2, which were direct sequels toPokemon BlackandWhiteinstead, and thenPokemon XandYnever even got their third game. ThePokemongames then reverted to their previous release pattern somewhat withUltra SunandUltra Moon, and so fans are wondering ifSwordandShieldcould get similar new versions or even direct sequels.
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While this would usually be the safest bet when it comes to newPokemongames, it actually seems unlikely that Nintendo will release an enhanced version ofPokemon SwordandShieldany time soon. That’s because Nintendo has instead opted to release newPokemon SwordandShieldcontent through DLC expansions this time around, launchingIsle of Armorthis summer andThe Crown Tundralater this year.
Pokemon Gen 9
We also can’t rule out the possibility that the nextPokemongames will be Generation 9 and move the franchise forward significantly. There’s definitely a chance of it happening, thoughPokemonfans shouldn’t hold their breath. As just mentioned,Pokemon SwordandShieldstill have DLC expansionsthat have yet to launch, and so support for those games will remain consistent throughout the rest of 2020 at the very least. If theDiamondandPearlremakes are real, then it seems even less likely thatPokemonGen 9 will be coming out any time soon, as one would imagine theDiamondandPearlremakes would be aiming for a 2021 release.
Nintendo recently indicated that the Nintendo Switch is just about halfway through its life cycle, meaning that the company plans on releasing new games for the console until at least 2023. This leaves plenty of time forPokemonGen 9 to still release for the Switch, even with supposedDiamondandPearlremakes on the horizon, but there’s a decent chance that fans will have to purchase the next-generation Nintendo console to play the next-generation ofPokemongames instead.
However, all of this is just speculation at this time, and it’s impossible to say with absolute certainty what the plans are for thePokemonfranchisemoving forward.
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