Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the next titles for the Pokémon franchise. The games are nearly complete, according to an announcement from Game Freak.
Originally revealed during the Pokémon Day Pokémon Presents broadcast on Feb. 27, fans have slowly learned more about the ninth generation of Pokémon, with the most recent trailer showcasing several key features, a continued focus on sweeping overviews of large areas, and the reveal of some of the creatures that will be appearing in the new region. This includes the game’s Legendary cover Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon, which were shown off in the second trailer on June 1.
Game Freak and The Pokémon Company are still keeping the finer details—such as information on the starters beyond the first glance at their designs, their names, and upcoming gameplay changes—close to the chest.
As of now, Game Freak has confirmed that Scarlet and Violet will be open-world games “where various towns with no borders blend seamlessly into the wilderness,” according to a press release. New online multiplayer features that will allow a player to explore the various locations of the region with up to three others have also been detailed.
Along with those new details, TPC confirmed that SV will launch worldwide for Nintendo Switch on Nov. 18, lining up with the normal Pokémon release window in the middle of the month.
Initially, the 2022 release window surprised a lot of fans, seeing as Pokémon Legends: Arceus just launched in February and was a heavy undertaking at Game Freak with the developers adapting many of the franchise’s core concepts into an entirely new format. But the more that is shown for SV, the more it becomes apparent that it builds upon everything the team worked on for Arceus, just packaged with more of a traditional Pokémon feel.
More details about the game will be shared throughout the year, but for now, players can enjoy the odd live-action hybrid trailer and all of the other Pokémon content coming out.
