Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

February 27 Pokémon Direct presentation may give us a glimpse of the Gen 8 game

Gabe Gurwin
By
Pokémon Direct 2.27.2019

Nintendo recently offered up more than 30 minutes of information on upcoming Switch games in one of its Nintendo Direct presentations, but the company isn’t done quite yet. On February 27, a second Nintendo Direct will be shown that focuses exclusively on Pokémon, and it could be our first look at the Gen 8 game for Switch.

Recommended Videos

The presentation will take place at 9 a.m. ET, and will last for roughly seven minutes. Nintendo didn’t clarify precisely what will take place, but referred to the event as a “Pokémon Direct.”

Related

The timing of proper Pokémon role-playing game announcement would make sense, as the Pokémon Twitter account previously revealed that the game would be arriving in the second half of 2019.

With #PokemonQuest and #PokemonLetsGo, there are so many new ways to explore the world of Pokémon! Trainers can look forward to even more with an all-new core series Pokémon RPG title in development for the second half of 2019! pic.twitter.com/d5uiIpenMI

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) May 30, 2018

A core Pokémon game would certainly flesh out a 2019 Switch lineup that is looking a little skimpier than past years. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is out in July and Astral Chain and Bayonetta will both arrive this year, but none of those games have the brand recognition of Pokémon.

After the success of the more casual Let’s Go games, players are eager for a full-fledged Pokémon role-playing experience. Let’s Go was also limited to the Kanto region and, for the most part, the original monsters featured in Pokémon Yellow. This will likely not be the case with the new game, which should explore a new region and include a number of all-new Pokémon to catch. The increased power of the Switch should also make them more vibrant than ever.

The Pokémon Switch game won’t be the only Pokémon title releasing this year, however. The film Pokémon: Detective Pikachu will release May 10, and blends live-action footage with CG Pokémon characters. The titular monster is voiced by Ryan Reynolds — the actor has gotten seriously into his character, joking in a video that he “lived at his height” and attempted to lose nearly 200 pounds to better represent the tiny electric mouse. He’s still not Danny DeVito, but that’s a pretty good effort for portraying a Pokémon.

The last full Pokémon role-playing games were Sun and Moon, released for the 3DS back in 2016. The following year, they were updated as Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon for the same systems, and included different stories.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Effort Levels and grit guide for Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Lucario looking sinister.

Pokémon games have always been beginner friendly. Their RPG mechanics are, on the surface, quite simple and easy to understand. All a player really needs to understand to make it through most of the games, including Pokémon Legends: Arceus, is which Pokémon types are weak or strong against another. That, plus some grinding, could easily carry a normal player through the game without hitting much of a wall in terms of difficulty. However, going into the more difficult challenges of the games, or for those just wanting to create the most powerful Pokémon possible, there have always been extra ways to maximize how strong your team of monsters are.

In past games, the main "hidden" stat players focused on boosting were called IVs and EVs, but Pokémon Legends: Arceus scraps those in favor of a new system called Effort Levels. They didn't just rename these stats for no reason, though, and no matter how familiar you are with stat-boosting in older games, you will still have a bit to learn with this new system, such as how grit and grit items play into things. If you're beefing up your team to take on Pokémon Legends: Arceus' most difficult challenges, read up on this guide covering everything about Effort Levels and grit.

Read more
What are Noble Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
pokemon legends arceus noble pok mon

The brand new direction Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes isn't just for show. The new, semi-open-world design has turned many of the main mechanics and structure of this long-running series on its head. Everything from how you approach battles, to quests, and traversal have been reinvigorated with this experimental title. At the same time, there are always the changes we do expect with a brand new Pokémon title -- the most obvious being an entirely new cast of monsters to battle, train, and evolve as you go about your adventure. Even though this game takes place in the past, there are plenty of new Pokémon to discover, but also brand new unique forms of certain Pokémon.

Somewhat like alpha Pokémon, Noble Pokémon are a much more dangerous form of pocket monster that you can encounter while exploring the vast Hisui region. With the new structure established in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which does away with the tried and true formula of gym leaders serving as boss battles, Noble Pokémon fill the role as the big bad bosses you need to topple in order to progress. If you need to know what makes these Noble Pokémon so special, here's everything you need to know about these massive beasts before heading out on your next expedition.

Read more
All the Pokémon games available for the Nintendo Switch
pokemon sword shield

The Pokémon franchise has been alive and well since 1996. The series has seen many new games, worlds, and Pokémon for us to explore and catch. Each game gives us something new and, for the most part, players of the series love it. Most Pokémon fans will delight in explaining which games they played first, which Pokémon are their favorites, and the relative qualities of each game.

The Nintendo Switch offers a wide range of Pokémon games for players to relive and explore. Although some of these games may not be strictly set up as how we know Pokémon now, they do add a bit to the overall universe. They give new ways of looking at the world of Pokémon, and experiences within it that may not have occurred to players. They're the perfect way to explore, catch, and learn about these adorable pocket monsters. If you're looking for a new Pokémon game to try out and explore, you've come to the right place!

Read more