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Rumor: Pokémon Switch Details Leak
The rumor mill is abuzz with talk of the unannounced Pokémon Switch game. The latest rumors give the upcoming role-playing game a name, Pokémon Let’s Go!, and say that there'll be two versions, similar to past handheld entries in the popular series. Supposedly releasing later this year, players will have to choose between picking up either a Pikachu or Eevee version of the game. A logo (see below) has also been circulating online.
The Pokémon series has been a consistent success for Nintendo ever since the role-playing games debuted in 1996. Collecting pocket monsters has gone beyond gaming, as it's become a full-fledged franchise ranging from popular card games to television shows and movies. Most recently the series saw another huge upswing in popularity thanks to the augmented reality mobile game, Pokémon Go.
The new rumors are in line with some from last month where a leaker on 4chan claimed that the games would be a remake of Pokémon Red and Blue, the Game Boy titles that started the series' boom as a cultural phenomenon. As the name would suggest, Let's Go! will also feature some integration with Pokémon Go, Niantic's mobile hit that released in 2016. Whether this would mean similar augmented reality gameplay or just the two games being able to connect together remains to be seen.
Additionally, Emily Rogers, who has proven to be a trustworthy source of Nintendo information in the past, went to her blog to set a few details straight about the upcoming release. Rogers says that the official announcement will come "before the end of this month" and confirms that there are two versions. She also cryptically asks readers "How could Switch benefit from Pokémon Go’s success, and how could Pokémon Go benefit from Switch’s success?" That question could very well spell out the philosophy of the upcoming game.
How large a role the Go-style mechanic would play is currently unknown. It could range anywhere from being the crux of the experience to a side-element similar to how Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver allowed players to capture pocket monsters while taking walks with a custom pedometer. There are many ways for this functionality to be implemented, so there's no real reason for fans to rejoice or freak out yet.
As Rogers says, it looks like fans won't have to wait much longer for an official unveiling. The Pokémon series has never been one to announce games at E3, as Nintendo has traditionally preferred to get in front of the busy news cycle. That means that a May announcement is quite likely. Worst case scenario, Nintendo goes against the grain and waits until their June 12 Nintendo Direct to unveil the two games.
