Did Nintendo just reveal a pair of new Pokémon games?

By Mike Epstein February 26, 2016

pokemon sun and moon trademarks — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nintendo may have inadvertently revealed the names and logos for a new pair of Pokémon games, Pokémon Sun and Moon, Thursday, ahead of the games’ scheduled reveal. The publisher filed trademarks for the two games in the European Union Thursday, which featured what appear to be logos for each.

Meanwhile, Nintendo announced it will broadcast a Pokémon-themed Nintendo Direct livestream Friday morning. The announcement said fans should “be sure” to visit Pokemon.com after the event.

Catch the new Pokémon Direct on Feb. 26 at 7 a.m. PT! https://t.co/sVsqDLWp43 pic.twitter.com/N4PoQgwU5Z

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 24, 2016

A Nintendo of America parody Twitter account with similar name and image tweeted that Sun and Moon would be released in 2016, causing some media outlets to incorrectly report that Nintendo confirmed the game ahead of schedule. (The parody account has been suspended.)

The broadcast comes just a day ahead of the original Pokémon’s 20th anniversary. Nintendo has rolled out a long list of promotions to commemorate the anniversary, including a Pokémon-themed New 3DS console, and upcoming ports of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow coming the 3DS eShop Saturday, Feburary 27.

Rumors that Nintendo would announce new Pokémon sequels in 2016 intensified earlier this month when the design for a new Pokémon called Magiana was published in Japanese magazine Coro Coro. According to Eurogamer, the magazine article said Magiana would appear in an upcoming Pokémon film, Volcanion and the Exquisite Magiana, but would not appear as DLC in the latest Pokémon games, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. While past reports have referred to the upcoming sequel as “Pokémon Z,” a presumptive sequel to 2013 game Pokémon X and Y, the new trademarks make Sun and Moon a more viable possibility.

We’ll find out what the new Pokémon games are called when (and if) they’re announced at the February, 2016, Nintendo Direct, which begins Friday at 10am Eastern. You can check out the livestream on the Nintendo website.

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