Pokémon Main Series Confirmed for Nintendo Switch

by

One of the more interesting tidbits to come from Nintendo’s E3 showing was this tidbit:

While many have speculated that the main Pokémon series would be making the jump from the Nintendo 3DS to the Switch, it has now been confirmed that we will be seeing games on the latter. It was later added that it could be “well over a year” until we see a title on Nintendo’s latest console however, hinting that it could be Gen VIII.

Are you HYPED to see a Switch Pokémon RPG?? I am! You may have seen on Twitter last night that I have one in my apartment now… although it is my roommate’s. Sewaddle salaries don’t cover such luxuries :'(

Supporters

Nick F

Smearg

Foil Island

Conglome NERD

alcremie sundae

Radiant Blutle

Zachery

Dragoniteo

Austin John Plays

Help support our work by becoming a Patron on Patreon! Swadloon Platoon members and above will be added to our site supporters list!

3,213 thoughts on “Pokémon Main Series Confirmed for Nintendo Switch”

  3. Hmm. That wording has been erking me now for awhile. I don’t mean to damper anyone’s hope, but I wanted to ask does Japan usually call main series games “core”. I don’t recall them doing so, and it kinda strikes me odd that they would NOA would also call it core. Like when I hear “Core” I think more in terms of gameplay then saying its a main series game. Like it could be a coliseum or XD sort of game. But I suppose let’s just leave that up to GF’s bad communication skills as of late.

    Reply

    • I wouldn’t call Coliseum or XD “core” games. They were side games indefinitely. In addition to that Ishihara specifically stated it was GameFreak that was making the Switch title and that can only mean main series. GF ONLY makes the main series games so if it’s involving them then there’s really no doubt about it. I think them using the word “core” is just their way of saying mainline games. You can really call them whatever you want, but at the end of the day it all means the same thing lol

      Reply

      • Ehh, I’m not so convinced. I would call them core games in the sense of gameplay. Coliseum and XD were nearly identical to the main series games, say for one small mechanic to make them different. As well, never say that never doing something before means that it can never happen. As it stands right now we have just as much evidence of them making a new separate series of pokemon as it being a main series game, which is to say we have nothing but a vague word saying their working on a game. Also I again disagree with that being their word for the main series games, given that they do tend to call them main series game. The Pokemon direct did use the word main, not core.

        That said though I’m not doubting that its a main series game, merely saying that we should be careful of assuming that a vague statement means what ever we wish it to be, when it might not.

        Reply

        • While I’ll agree the idea of something not happening before is not a good reason for something never happening I have to disagree as far as GF making a side game. Precedent is one thing, but GF’s main and only task is making the main games. The only things they make that aren’t the main Pokemon games are their own side projects. TPC have other companies handle the side games. Sure GF COULD make side games, but after 20 years I think they’re perfectly happy with making the core series games. It’s not their responsibility to make side games nor should it be. Their main responsibility should be creating the main series. Plus when would they have time for a side game? GF as a company isn’t huge so they’d need a considerable amount of people for the side game. That’d take away fro main series projects.

          Reply

          • At the same time though I’m not saying that their making a full on spin-off game, but more of a sub series to it. Like a Pokemon game better structured for a console style of play, having more of a focus on story with maybe a smaller number of pokemon obtainable and making the game over all longer, while continuing on what we would call the main series with the 3DS for now and if Nintendo has anything planned as a proper successor for it, which we really don’t know right now. I agree I don’t expect them to make pokemon ranger or mystery dungeon, but a pokemon console RPG that is made in mind to be played on a home console isn’t that much of a stretch, which is why I say core might not equal main series.

          • I honestly think you’re looking too far into the exact wording. We’ll have to wait and see, but I can’t see GF deviating far from the regular main series formula. I doubt they’d multitask to make games for both the Switch AND the 3DS. The Switch is basically a handheld in it’s own right already. Sure they’r billing it as a home console that you can take on the go, but if you talk to anyone that owns a Switch (including myself lol) You’ll hear that the handheld mode is actually much better than the tv mode. The TV mode is good, but being able to take stuff on the go has a better feel to it. The Switch is perfect for the main series Pokemon games.

  4. This means usum are going to be the last pokemon games on 3ds, which means the games on switch will be gen 8 since a new console will mean a complete overhaul and stuff.. this means gen 7 will be very short and it also means that we’ll have to wait even longer for sinnoh remakes

    Reply

    • why does everyone sound so convinced that Sinnoh remakes are gonna be next?
      Seriously there has been literally nothing pointing them towards this possibility

      Reply

      • Other then the sudden increase in Sinnoh pokemon being marketed front and center, and t he latest direct purposely leaving out the Sinnoh games from their shrine of games?

        Reply

        • that first one is a bunch of malarky what have they been marketing
          And that cannot be anything other than just a weird little thing

          Reply

          • The biggest increase in marketing has been having Piplup and Lucario appearing in the upcoming movie. The thing is though, why them? Like really? Why them? Certainly their liked pokemon, but so are plenty of pokemon. If we’re seeing this movie reference back to Kanto, why not Kanto starters, or why not Alola pokemon. Why two of the most popular pokemon that were introduced in Sinnoh, one of which can’t even be obtained in the games currently. That’s what get’s people questioning.

            As for the games; there is no such thing as a weird little thing. Those sets are made very specifically by people to feature certain products. IN this case it oddly left out the sinnoh games, which did catch peoples eyes for being missing. It gets people talking about the missing games and gets people thinking about Sinnoh, which in of itself is some of the best free advertising you could have out of an announcement for a completely different game.

          • Lucario is always the it pokemon and this whole movie is a gigantic mess trying to work off the 20th
            i just think y’all are unhinged with your Sinnoh lust

          • Yes and no with Lucario, but again you can’t really deny the other odd choice of pokemon. And even if you want to call the movie a mess, it doesn’t dispute that picking something newer or classic would make more sense from a marketing perspective.

            And again I think your just willfully denying signs that are in front of you because you either don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment or truly don’t think that GF might be kinda cleaver when it comes to marketing.

          • nope i’m already in a constant sense of disappointment and you think signs there when its truly nothing more then coincidences

  5. I’m excited, but I also think them telling us this NOW was a bit useless. They already have a set of games coming out later this year and they themselves were only announced last week. Why say anything right now when the games will likely not be coming out until at least 2019? Seems like a weird move………For people that were already not huge fans of the idea of USUM (for what little we know about them at least) this makes them seem even more like filler that is almost useless. At this point I don’t think they really needed to say anything about a Switch game until the time it’s release was a little closer. I mean of course there was gonna be a Switch game. People who were against the idea for whatever reason were out of their minds. It was gonna happen eventually no matter what. Thus why I think them telling us so far in advance is kind of both useless and a bit redundant. That all said I’m SUPER excited to see a main series Pokemon game in HD. I’ve wanted this forever!!!! I really hope I’m wrong about it coming in 2019 and it actually comes next year!!! hahahaha

    Reply

    • It almost feels like they saw all the people crying about the Direct announcement and decided last minute that they would tell people that there actually is a Switch game coming… Because yeah I agree it was unnecessary, and that we probably won’t get it until 2019. I would much rather just see some more US/UM stuff now.

      Reply

      • I honestly doubt they would cave for the masses like that hahaha I’ve seen people saying that, but if they were that susceptible to that kind of pressure they’d acknowledge leaks more often. They don’t do that so why would they acknowledge people complaining? lol

        Reply

        • Maybe they didn’t realise just how many people were expecting that to be part of the Direct announcement? Acknowledging leaks is different than acknowledging the expectations of your fanbase and deciding to announce something. I dunno you’re probably right that it has nothing to do with it, but it definitely felt unnecessary to me.

          Reply

    • They had more than enough other Switch stuff that they were actually showing. Should’ve put USUM in there if anything.

      Reply

      • Yeah. Or maybe even just left it at them talking about Pokken. I really couldn’t care less about Pokken at this point (which I’m saddened about…..), but it would have made more sense than them dropping the news and then saying nothing more.

        Reply

  6. I now think that next year will almost be a clone of 2015. They’ll probably announce a Mystery Dungeon game for the Switch, hint at Gen 9 in the fall, and then fully announce it in 2019.

    Reply

    • Yeah I think next year will likely be a skip year with hopefully some real side games. I’m enjoying the mobile games, but for a skip year they need a real game out. Hopefully not a MD game because those are awful……….lol Hopefully we can get another conquest game. that’d be great lol

      Reply

    • About a year would lead to E3 2018. I think we’ll hear something or see something about the new title there. Still, a skip wouldn’t be unexpected. Atlus’ upcoming Shin Megami Tensei for Switch should hold me over before then… if I find a Switch… lol.

      Reply

  7. I hope this time around Gamefreak does things right with Gen 8
    I was extremely unsatisfied with pretty much all of Sun and Moon

    this would be Earthen’s perfect game/list of demands
    -LARGE DEX: Lots and lots of new pokemon of amazing and unexpected type combinations and evenly distributed, i keep hearing this whole bullcrap of quality over quantity and i think its stupid, who doesn’t want a large variety of different pokemon
    -less pussyfooting: i’m just so done with how much they water down the pokemon games and spoonfeeding us with the story and the battles, its just way too easy, don’t be afraid to crank up the difficulty, or at the very least use the switch’s power to make a challenge mode
    -less gimmick coasting, lets face it they are too much prioritized with gimmicks driving the game and i’m kinda getting old of it, Megas were cool and i hate Z-Moves, the Gimmick should just be a solid game with tons of tons pokemon to use
    -a jerk of a rival: i’m so annoyed how supported and caring the sad excuses of rivals we have, the last decent one was Hue at least he fought tooth and nail for his goal, but i want one that makes your blood curl because only through anger and frustration brings out your true strength
    -a decent story: Sun and Moon’s story was a flop because they coasted WAY too much on Lillie’s mommy issues, i mean they didn’t really do anything aside from going to Ultra Space and a short battle, and nothing more, they barely used the Ultra Beasts. i want a really shocking and enticing story
    -a really solid Online system, last good one was the PSS
    -Stats and Moveset: i hate how some pokemon get better deals while others get nothing good, and usually its the popular types that get extra treatment

    Reply

    • I agree completely with the rivals. Hau was never intimidating or make you a little nervous to fight him (like a rival should be) and he was really annoying. My biggest complaint with S/M was I didn’t feel like I was on a journey, it felt like a field trip as Lillie and Hau were pretty much always with us, and Kukui was our chaperone.

      Reply

  8. This news is very interesting to say the least, and is reminiscent of the time GF announced they would be developing a game for the DS system. It acted as a sign of reassurance that yes, they would indeed be making the jump to that console just as they are now with the switch. Kinda makes you wonder if this was also a subtle hint at generation four remakes….

    Reply

  10. ugh i feel like busting out Superstar Saga on the ol SP
    i mean we got time for me to get it out of my system

    Reply

  13. Looks like the Black nuzlocke will have to wait for an indefinite amount of time. Because after Heart Gold I’m going on a Metroid binge. Zero Mission, Super Metroid, Fusion, and all three Prime Games

    Reply

  14. Can I just say….to anyone who has ever said “They’ll NEVER announce a main series Pokemon game at E3!” ehem…………SUCK IT!!!! Technically anyway hahaha

    Reply

  15. UGH They are moving to the Switch??? I cant believe this! Now I will have to buy a switch for myself, and buy the Pokemon game! What a waste of time!! (Did I annoy you, Rival?)

    No but seriously, Im happy they are making the switch (no pun intended), it just means the games will be able to hold more, therefore more content, less lag. and Just better all around!

    Reply

  18. Did anything get announce for the Switch today that had a demo or something that would be released today? I want to play my Switch, but other than Shovel Knight which I’m not in the mood currently for I have nothing. I suppose I have Mario Kart, but I’m not sure I want that right now either. I kind of want something new, but nothing too commitment heavy.

    Reply

  20. I said it on the last thread, it’s about time Pokemon is in glorious HD. I just need to find a Switch somewhere. Almost every store in my area is sold out of the console. It already has a ton of games I’m interested in. To restate my last point, I’m feeling Generation 8 for the Switch. Basically, starting on a clean slate for the Nintendo Switch.

    Reply

    • I’m sure by the time the Switch Pokemon game comes out Switch’s will be more more in stock. In some areas they’re already starting to fill stores again. Plus by that point they may reveal something along the lines of a PS4 slim or something to give more options for people.

      Reply

  21. So maybe this Pokemon RPG is the reason walking and running animations exist in Sun & Moon? They did them there so they could transfer them over rather than having to work from scratch?

    Reply

  24. Drawing Samus and im having alot of fun. Practicing pose (even though its a simple pose), a more atheletic body type, and drawing with my shoulder instead of my wrist 😛

    I love how its turning out so I’m going to make an imgur album of the process 😀

    Reply

Leave a Comment