There’s a lot of hype around the upcomingPokemon Scarlet and Violet, as the initial reveal sent fans into a frenzy of rumor, speculation, discussion, fan art, and so on. The second trailer forPokemon Scarlet and Violetdid the same, confirming its release date and revealing the new box legendaries,Pokemon Scarlet’s Koraidon andPokemon Violet’s Miraidon.
Heartbreakingly, there are fans out there who may not make it toPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s release date, including the young patient of Dr. Erica Kaye. Kaye is a pediatric oncologist who recently took to Twitter, asking to connect with Nintendo, Game Freak, The Pokemon Company, and/or any company attached to the game. She asked if her patient—a young boy—could somehow playPokemon Scarlet and Violetearly or speak with the developers.
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The gaming community came together in response to Kaye’s tweet, which as of this writing features over 4,000 retweets, 300 quote tweets, and 12,000 likes. The overwhelming response from the gaming community helped ensure Kaye’s request was seen by the VP of Technology at The Pokemon Company, Eric Neustadter.
Neustadter stated that he was unsure if he could getPokemon Scarlet and Violetinto the little boy’s hands, but he did say he can make something happen for him. Dr. Kaye followed up on her initial request sometime after the response, stating that “the right folks are now working on it.”
It’s uncertain if fans will hear any follow-ups beyond this, perhaps for two main reasons. First, the young boy and his family deserve their privacy. Fans can rest assured thatNintendois actively responding to the situation. Second, but of course much less important, is that Nintendo may very well let him playPokemon Scarlet and Violet—an early build, at least—and it’s not likely that Nintendo would want to publicize that information itself.
While Neustadter did not publicly state he could ensure that it would happen, many believe the Big N will do the right thing and grant the young child’s wishes. After all, as heartbreaking as it is, this isn’t the first time rules were bent for fans in similar situations. In 2018, for example, Nintendo let a fan withterminal cancer playSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateahead of release, so there’s no reason it wouldn’t do it again—if privately, as all parties involved deserve.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetrelease November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
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