Summary
While there were many announcements that came out of the recent Pokemon Presents, there was one announcement that signaled a new beginning for the mobile gamePokemon GOthat some fans may not have realized at first. During the presentation, GO Fest was discussed at length, emphasizing Diancie and its Mega Evolution’s being added to the game. On top of that, it was announced that in September 2023,Pokemon ScarletandVioletare enteringPokemon GOwith the addition of Pokemon from the Paldea region.
It may not seem important thatPokemon GOis adding Generation 9 pocket monsters so soon, but it actually sets a new record for the game and the series' rate of adapting to a new generation.Pokemon ScarletandVioletwould have only been out for 11 months once its starter creatures and other Pokemon make it into the game, which means that it’s highly likely that when Generation 10 comes around, its critters may be added immediately.
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How Pokemon GO Will Likely Add Generation 10 Pokemon As Soon As Possible
WhenPokemon GOfirst launched, it started out rather small and simple compared to what it is now with a good selection of creatures from the Kanto region available to catch, with others such as Ditto being added later once its mechanics were figured out. Later in 2016,Baby Pokemonwere added into the pool of hatchable critters to lead up to Johto, which would be added in Feburary of 2017. The Hoenn region would follow later that same year, and from then on, new batches of regional Pokemon from Generations 4 and 6 would be added every following year.
However, in 2019, asPokemon GOwas being recognized as a stable part of thePokemonfranchise rather than a mobile game fans could pick up and play if they desired to, the release ofPokemon SwordandShieldwould beginGO’strend of hosting special events to celebrate the franchise’s biggest launches. Galarian Wheezing would be a limited-time encounter to celebrateGeneration 8’s release, and Hisuian Voltorb would be available to promotePokemon Legends Arceus. Gimmighoul would signifyPokemon ScarletandVioleta few months later in 2023.
Despite these promotions, there hasn’t been any Generation or region ofPokemonthat has been given preferential treatment for the sake of promoting the games outside regional variants. All the regions had to be added in through a drip-feed for exclusive events and otherpromotions withinPokemon GO, and some regions have only just begun. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Unova are the only regions in which the Pokedex can be completed, and Generations 4, and 6 through 8 are still being added to this day.
The Galar region starters - the generation whose launch was celebrated with Galarian Wheezing being added toPokemon GO- are still missing, and yet Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly will join the adventure next month, along withother Paldea Pokemon. This sets a very clear record for the fastest addition of any generation and its starters seen inPokemon GOto date. It likely means that Paldea will be added toPokemon GO’scurrent drip-feed along with the remaining Pokemon that the game has yet to include despiteScarletandVioletonly being out for a year.
PuttingPokemon ScarletandViolet’s creatures in the game so soon puts Niantic’s AR game in a very interesting position when it comes to the future. While Generation 10 may still be a few years away, that gives the mobile title a few more years to catch up, which may close the divide between the other lacking regional Pokedexes inPokemon GOand Generation 10. As a result of the Paldea region’s rather fast entrance intoGO, it seems like Generation 10 is likely going to be added even sooner, potentially right at the beginning of thenextPokemongeneration.
Pokemon GOis available for Android and iOS.
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