REMINDER: We discuss rumors not to pass them off as fake news confirmed information, but to stimulate discussion and highlight possibilities. Never treat this or share this as fact, because it is entirely unconfirmed information which may or may not be true.
The next main Pokémon title has already been confirmed to be a Nintendo Switch game, but not much else is officially known at this point. This hasn’t stopped some Chinese sources from sharing potential information about the game though. Our intrepid rumor reporter PokéSirena (you can follow her on Twitter) has helped us track down and translate the latest online gossip. These are from some of the same people who knew about Rainbow Rocket before it was revealed which is why we’ve taken particular note.
- The Chinese localization team has already finished translating the games’ script
- There will be no new Mega Evolutions introduced in the new games
- Z-Moves return and now use motion control to activate using the Joy-Cons
- Central plot revolves around the conflict between tradition and innovation
- Region inspiration has been rumored to be Spain or Italy
- Release to come late 2018 (~December) or early 2019
These details pale in comparison to what has also been said though, and that is the games feature a new, simplified battle system which has been compared to that of the Digimon World games. For those not familiar with them they use a real-time battle style in which moves are still selected via menu and include the option to attack or block moves from your opponent. It has also been compared to the battle system of Pokkén Tournament in which moves are either attacks, blocks or grabs and work in a rock-scissors-paper fashion.
If the above were to be true it would certainly be a change for longtime Trainers and could have the potential to disrupt the deep strategy game competitive players love.
What do you think?
REMINDER: In the spirit of giving we’ve added a few days to enter in our GIVEAWAY so be sure to do so ASAP!
We have to at least put some faith into them. I don’t want it to be true. Especially the part about the battle system. This is why I hate that the Chinese have legal access to the games now. They are leaking machines. They leaked a boat load of info for Sun and Moon.
China does what it wants cause it knows they could just jolt prices up on everything
I hate China. Pokemon has just been slipping imo because we know everything so far in advance thanks to them getting the games legally now.
Wtf are you on about? So the Chinese population shouldn’t have Video Games get leaked? Oh fuuck off with that bullshit.
while some of this info may be true, some might not be, not all info leaked by chinese is always true, usually some is and some isn’t, they usually put fake info in there alongside real info so Nintendo doesn’t find out
I just hope to Arceus above that the battle system changes are fake. That would mean no more turns, no more order, and then that would mean more civilization!
Does anyone have any idea what it means by the battle system being in “real time”? I hate to sound like an idiot. But the only RPG’s I’ve played are the first two Paper Mario, Pokemon, and the Mario and Luigi series. Lol.
You don’t take Turns. like how Zelda Combat works but with RPG elements.
Oh god. That would suck. 3/10. Might not buy if this is true.
YOU HAVENT EVEN SEEN THE SYSTEM
Calm down a bit, it’s not worth getting annoyed over
It’s like Pokken. When you click to use a move it immediately uses it.
Not necissarily
Actually it means the battle is happening at the time you are playing it like in real time.
A ‘real time’ rpg would be like Tales or like some of the FF games. You still have movesets and stats and everything, but you have some degree of movement and and the option to block or dodge..it may very well Destroy competitive pokemon if implemented, but may make the actual games fun
Pokemon fans are so scared of change I swear to god
I mean, they’re fans of a franchise that has barely changed, it makes sense.
It’s the old saying. If it aint broke, don’t fix it. I don’t want Digimon World and a Pokken style format in the main games. Just stick with what works. PLEASE GAME FREAK!
The can can make the combat much better if they make it in active time tho, and if they don’t take big risks then they won’t be able to improve much imo
This said simpler which is not better. The combat is already pretty good and improved.
Simpler doesn’t mean worse tho. And having an active time battle system
well executed would definitely be an improvement tbh.
If it is fun and also has a competitive side then sure it can be great if executed well. One reason lots of adults buy Pokemon and enjoy it is because of the competitive side as it causes people to think and it isn’t as easy to get good at. It takes skill.
Yeah well that’s a dumb saying in this situation because it means we can NEVER try anything new. We’re just going to play the same game for 20 more years with minimal change
I’m not really on their side, but Tbh if diffrent battle system Spin offs sold as well as main series, we’d probably get a change in the main series
Spin offs never sell as well as the main series in ANY franchise. It doesn’t make sense to base it off that
*Cough*
– Mario Kart
– Smash Bros
– Persona
– Donkey Kong Country
– Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
Funny how there are numberous examples of this, yet you chose to ignore them to prove your point.
The change to the battle system could either be good or bad depending on how it’s executed. We’ll just have to wait and see.
I hope Game Freak honestly knows what they are doing. A lot of fans (myself included) are already up in arms about the possible changes to the battle system. And a lot of fans are expecting a high quality product from Game Freak, like what Zelda and Mario got for their debuts on the Switch.
I wouldn’t worry about it. If the changes end up being bad and people don’t like it, they go back to the old battle system. If it’s good, they keep it.
Pokemon fans are awesome.
Complaining about even the slightest thought of change. How about we see is this change is good or bad before complaining
Preach
Lol This is a big change. Their complaining is justified. Discussing the changes isn’t that bad tbh.
A big change we haven’t seen at all. The change might be objectively better in every way but people would still complain before seeing it because
It is still a big change nonetheless. A change to the battle system like this means the way competitive used to work is right out the window. I’m honestly waiting to see if this is true and works great but I see why people complain.
I can understand why people would be afraid for the future of comp, but unlike games such as Overwatch or League, Pokémon is a game where the single player or more intimate mutliplayer (casual battling and trades) are the main focus. This can really help Pokémon become a better experience and I don’t see why people are complaining but I can see why they’re worried. But you can be worried and not immediately take it to negativity.
I get what you mean but the thought of this changing may be a lot to people. Like a system you have gotten used to for years and have gotten good at it to just go away like that and you know competitive can’t work like it used to before. I guess though Gamefreak targets the casuals more anyway since they make up the most the fanbase. As long as this is really fun I can bare with it.
Competitive Pokémon honestly sucks. It’s incredibly unbalanced. If they changed the system, it could give them an opportunity to balance it or even do what I’ve been saying and turn the stadium series into a competitive focused game with team building and online matchups using the old combat system
Actually tbh what is worrying me here is that, as they say, it is like Pokken and stuff how would it work? Pokken took a whole year and only had like 21 characters. How will they implement all Pokemon into this and work? This is why I’m leaning a bit towards fake here but then again idk the details of this system.
No
It’s not going to be a fighting game
How would you think this will work? The way they explained it certainly looks like every fighting game out there.
Yeah want to know why…
Mega’s!
No. It’s because they’re trying to make a single player game competitive and it doesn’t work because not every Pokémon is made with comp in mind. Many megas are inferior to non Mega Pokémon
Mega Rayquaza and Scizor….
And yeah, but Mega’s are a piece to why comp. is broken
Mega Scizor isn’t even that bad and Mega Rayquaza is even banned even in official tourneys.
Clearly your knowledge of comp is limited considering a lot of teams don’t even run Megas now that there’s new toys out there
I have played local comp. Tourneys of Gen.6 before and M-Rayquaza wasn’t banned in it
So for most Comp. It’s banned, but not everywhere and at every event
And dude… I go on Showdown what once a week for an hour to fight 3 matches, of course my knowledge is limited, but have you ever played in an official non-online tourney?
That’s not GameFreak’s problem. That’s a problem with your local community for not banning it. It’s banned by official rules.
You can participate in something and not be knowledge about it and vice versa lol
But still have you ever faced in a local non-online Tournament?
No, but it doesn’t invalidate my point. Unless you’re an absolute pro, it doesn’t give you much Ground to stand on either. Megas aren’t that gamebeaking considering most of them have BSTs in line with the stronger regular Pokémon
I honestly now do want to apologize as looking back I haven’t competed since ORAS XD
…… It’s a rumour. And if it’s true how about we actually see how it’s implemented.
Omg let’s complain because there’s a chance something may be different even tho we don’t know how different
So cuz it is a rumour you can’t discuss it? Nothing wrong with discussing what the rumour is about. This alone shows it is a big change.
My point isn’t that people are discussing. My point is how the Pokemon fandom starts crying everytime they hear someone talk about change. Ofcourse change may ruin it, and you should not have to like it, but at least give it a chance rather than shutting yourself to everything except of what you’re familiar with
Yeah ik but change can be scary for many I guess.
I defo agree on a 2019 release, it’d be better for the game itself
This is better than no change at all really, we haven’t even seen anything about the combat yet like, it can be much better than the actual one
Change would have happened regardless. It is a big change you are looking at here. I’ll wait to see how things pan out. Feel like it should be a 2019 release too.
Inb4 it’s really bad and veterans of the series start to quit. I’m honestly on the fence about this. I hope that it’s not true to be quite plain about it. But if it is true, I guess we’ll see how Game Freak implements a Digimon/Pokken battle like style to the main games.
Dude I’m literally playing tales rn and it can easily be implemented. Literally the only downside would be competitive and perhaps speed stat
Essentially getting rid of speed stat would ruin so many pokemon
Zelda and Mario made extreme, potentially alienating changes and they’re amazing games. I wish people wouldn’t make change this boogeyman when in reality it’s a neutral force that is risky, but may take off extremely well and make the series even better.
If it’s sorta like how PJ worded it a Rock-paper-scissors deal, I’m all for it
And for all of you who are keeping record. When I hear it’s likely then I’ll roll with it, till then I’ll be a tad bitter
This applies to all fandoms, not just Pokemon.
Also change isn’t hated cos it’s new, but because it”s never implemented as well as the original idea, or we are never given what we are promised, but as always we can give it a shot.
Well I’ll be honest, I don’t think simplifying the battle system is something of importance, but if it turns out to be a good change then I’m all for it
If Pokémon fans were only ever given cake for dessert their entire life and they never had anything different. They would flip their sh*t if they saw a pie for the first time
That’s not the problem.
You can dislike pie.
The problem is when you say “we might give you pie”
They would lose their minds even though they don’t know what pie is
That’s kinda my point
I won’t lose my mind till I know what pie is 😛
Bitch please
Everytime I brought up change you got all defensive
Yeah we’ll now I know change is imminent I have subsided and decided to roll with it
Just like the Alola starters I didn’t like them till they were legit, now I just roll with it
Okay, I kinda agree with you, but this analogy sucks
But if the cake tasted good, but then we tried pie and it tasted terrible do we hate the pie cos it’s different or because we didn’t like its taste.
Obviously we will give it a shot, but I hate this notion that the only reason people dislike something is cos it’s new.
This is a terrible analogy.
Because sure, maybe a Pie is fine.
But they’ll still have a preference for cake.
And that’s the key word. Preference.
Honestly, I think the best course of action would be for Pokémon to separate their singleplayer orientated aspects and competitive based aspects into two different games. Balancing both is near impossible and just damages both. Comp brings a ton of useless clutter and complexity to singleplayer whilst casual means comp can’t be balanced as well as it should be.
The thing is that if they care enough for competitive to make a game just for it, I mean I know that worlds exists but the casual fanbase is still much bigger than the competitive one. (and the new battle system can also be competitive viable who knows)
Worlds gets them attention and revenue. It ain’t going anywhere soon
I’m not saying that they would remove worlds, like they can just make Worlds only have USUM for the rest of the years while new games with other battle system still get released.
I’m saying that I don’t think they will make another game just for worlds
I hope the innovation legend is water/psychic dolphin
What the heck has that to do with innovation
??
about as much as tradition so who gives a rats ass
wut
Um okay calm down Beyoncé
> Psychic
> Legend
> Water
> The most common type
> ‘innovative’
>:P
My Uncle must be generous or crazy
He bought me a brand new hp laptop for Christmas that I got today
A battle system where I can dodge and block attacks is something I’ve kinda wanted as a kid watching the anime. If they can tell their Pokémon to dodge then why can’t I?
I also always wanted something like combo attacks such as how Dawn would use bubble beam with Piplum then use Mamoswine to freeze it.
They could do some Breath of the Wild Chemistry engine stuff
Dodging sounds cool, but I hope Blocking won’t be a thing. That’d make Protect useless.
Maybe blocking can only be used with protect 😛
Then remove protect
No. Just don’t add block.
What’s the matter with removing protect tho
That it’s cool and makes more sense than blocking
No?? The fuckin Mario and Luigi series has already been doin this stuff
Siiiigh. Comments like this infuriate me as a M&L fan.
There is a reason why M&L has blocking and dodging implemented in its mechanics.
It’s because M&L main form of challenge is button presses and timing. (As well as figuring out if the hammer or jumping is most effective on an enemy.)
Pokemon’s form of challenge is making the most of a limited moveset by choosing the moves that suit you best, understanding the type chart, and catching and training the Pokemon. (With a bit of RNG to go with it.)
They’re both challenging in their own ways because they’re executed differently.
Lmao no every Pkm that can learn TMs can learn protect, so nothing would change
But if it takes up a move spot to tackle something, it makes sense that it’d take a move spot to block almost any attack
I dont think it would take up a move slot
We’re talking about a potentially different combat tho, and those rules probably wouldn’t apply anymore. And that’s also like saying that the “flee from battle” should be a move slot too
Block = Reduces damage
Protect = Nullifies damage
“. If they can tell their Pokémon to dodge then why can’t I?”
Because the anime doesn’t need to worry about balancing the mechanic whilst the game does :p
We kinda have combos rn even though they’re lame, but yeah hopefully a new battle system would allow them to get creative like that :0
I just hope we still have our normal battle screens are still able to select from a menu and take turns and have the rock-paper-scissors mechanic. Taking turns and the rock-paper-scissors mechanic mean everything to me and what has made the series work for 20+ years. The other features like blocking moves and grabbing or whatever are fine. I don’t play competitively. I honestly think the people that are the most angry about these possible changes are ones that play competitively. Just as long as we are able to take turns like previous games and still do a rock-paper-scissors fashion that the series is know for, then I’ll be fine.
PJ actually got me excited for a Rock-paper-scissors style
It just sounds less… Idk what, but sounds more comforting then “Scrap everything you know about battling because a while brand new, complex style is making way”
Does the Switch have a mic? Cause I thought of voice commanding your pokemon as an option. Like the Switch could recognise names of moves and stuff like ”Dodge”
No
I assume that’s to the question?
Lol cuz using Z-moves with gyro controls wasn’t gimmicki enough
That sounds hella complicated to implement and I dont want them wasting time and resources on that to be honest. Gamefreak should focus on fixing issues instead of adding more stuff
Love how people are assuming the new changes will be bad for Pokemon despite not knowing anything about them.
Okay, there are like 15 posts about this already guys, let’s stop
I agree, it’s hard to go play with my new laptop and miss this type of stuff
People are just desperate to talk about something because the whole years been a drought. And plus, people are actually speaking about the article for once :p
I have not once after hearing this complained about it.
Before hand I did, so all who bring that up to this fite me
I think people are taking these leaks far too to heart when they’re probably fake. Zeraora hasn’t been revealed meaning that it’s probably the surprise for this movie, as we haven’t gotten cross Gen mythical stuff yet and it has nothing special about it besides its signature move.
GameFreak and the anime deliberately co-ordinate mythical reveals because they’re literally cross promotion for the anime and games. So it’s not like the anime company chose this seperage to the games. Because Zeraora will be the sole 2018 mythical, this points toward 2019 being the launch date for PokéSwitch.
Of course, there are a variety of different things that could happen that could null this, but I’m just not seeing it tbh.
Of course they’re fake but that doesn’t mean we can’t b**** about them.
Also most people are focusing on the battling changes (which is the only thing that has any kind of weight behind it) and ignoring mostly everything else.
Beh I’m content with it all
I honestly want Italy as its the second biggest destination I want to visit one day
Of course not everyone is, but some people are.
I kinda believe Italy or Spain though because of all the evidence and Ash wearing the Spain colours in the new movie.
Just like you all took Ash’s collar, a simple miniscule detail they added for a better design. Into this intricate detailed theory that it has anything to do with Gen.8…
Reboot the whole damn thing. Dying franchise who keep making the mistake of catering their product to kids when the majority of their customers these days are (young) adults.
If Pokemon wont do this, they wont make it to gen 10.
Pokemon isnt dying though…? Dont fearmonger
Its the same repetitive garbage every time? They just reskin it with every new gen like island trials, kahunas etc? You defeat the trials, beat the evil team, beat the league and then you’re done. Are you saying this hasnt been going on for 20 years lol?
I agree with that but it’s still selling
You’re arguing the wrong point
Just because it’s not innovating as much as it could doesn’t mean it’s dying. Pokemon is like the second highest grossing video game franchise ever. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon
Repetitive =/= dying
Otherwise this argument would’ve died
“Dying franchise”
So your one of THOSE people.
‘Dying franchise’ https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cd283cb89df7c2a2ab83b4b7d8b7b1db7dfc2c07beabb80a1c1281544094f8cf.gif
It’s not a dying franchise but yes
Please reboot it
A dying franchise that makes Nintendo and Pokemon Company millions. okay.
Is still making millions, how is it dying? I can see it dropping in quality but not dying
It’s not even dropping in quality, it’s rollercoastering. Which is arguably even worse because it sets up hopes and expectations
Objectively, there is no bad Pokemon game. There all good in their own right. It’s our biases that illustrate whether we like one title over another.
I’d argue that from an objective standpoint, it has rollercoastered (in terms of quantity of content, bug/glitch management, how polished it is) but of course, it will be completely different for everyone from an objective standpoint. Gen VII is actually one of my favorites, only behind DPPt and Gen 5
Objectively I would argue that X&Y are very subpar though.
Y’all think the pokemon fandom is bad, try the star wars one lol
Ikr, saying that the new movie is worse than the prequels just because it’s ok instead of “as amazing as the originals”
The prequels are sh*tty ass movies. I like them and will watch them, but the writing and generally the acting are just not good. Anyone who is saying that last jedi is objectively worse is just a biased idiot who doesnt WANT to like the new movies.
I’ve had the idea that maybe there’s an option to change whatever the new standard battle system is to the old turn based. Sort of like how now we have the set and switch options.
So on another topic, what do you guys think about there being no new mega evolutions?
Disappointing, but not surprising. I just want cross gens ultimately
Bad. Gen 5 6 and 7 really need some
I mean I think that’s kind of a given. Why would they continue a mechanic from 2 gens earlier?
Kinda a bummer, tho I knew that they were dead since Sun/Moon
It’s fuckin stupid if they’re keeping z moves
They are also ‘keeping’ mega evolutions, just not adding new ones.
Ffs you know what I mean
Yeah, but it’s no different to the z-move thing.
Both Megas and Z-Moves will return, we just won’t have any new one.
Alolan’s will remain Alola Exclusive and maybe added in someway via a Post-game feature.
Yeah, No. If they’re making a Z-move gimmick, they’ll make new Z-Moves
They’re keeping Z-Moves just for the Joy-Con gimmick
And especially if it’s just because a gimmick from the switch too
They dont even serve any purpose if we’re being honest. Just a cheap excuse to introduce dance moves into active gameplay because ”20th anniversary, need to add some festive content you know”
I appreciate what they tried to do with them, but I kind of also see it as a lazy excuse to not make megas or cross gens. Like, “Well z moves can be applied to all pokemon, where megas and cross gens are so limited!”
But certain Pokemon really need a mega or cross-gen evo. I think the problem lies with the design department and their lack of creativity. Its easier to come up with overpowered moves than designing a whole new Pokemon for an already existing species
That’s also an issue I see with it :/ I just want complete pokemon that aren’t garbage on their own or have designs that are unfinished. Is that so much to ask for?
Not a surprise to be honest. Mega Evolutions seemed like a one time big feature thing for Generation 6.
Shounen was peaking in Japan at that time and Megas in the anime is basically just going super saiyan
And Z-Moves are Kamehamehas
Not surprised and i’d rather have cross-gen evos like mentioned below
Fake af, especially the changing of the core gameplay
Z-Moves being kept over Megas makes sense because whilst they’re not anywhere near as exciting, they’re easier to balance (every Pokémon can use them) and are more efficient to pump out (they don’t need new designs, just new animations).
Would it be disappointing if Z-Moves stayed over Megas? Would be for me. But is it surprising? No.
The thing with megas is that once they make one they basically have to include it and a way to get the stone in all future titles. But they can remove z moves at any time and there’s no change
They introduced Megas with the perfect way to retgone them. They only exist in select timelines. If they want, they can easily remove them.
And I do think they’ll keep Megas, I was lore meaning it makes sense why they’d focus more on Z-Moves. I do feel Megas will stay as a post game thing
Ugh that’s a good point. Another time line thing :I
It’s surprising to me because Z-Moves really felt like an Alola only thing, but not only that, how can they implement new Z-rings with gyms in a pkm game? Like they’d just give Z-Crystals instead of Badges? Because trials really felt like an only Alola thing as well
Z-Crystals could be like Mega Stones in XY
Hidden throughout the region waoting to be found
God no. That’s a terrible way to implement a feature, especially when it’s a selling point. Megas were handled terribly in XY because most were post game
Maybe make them… Not post game ?
In ORAS you could get stones as early as Slateport City main play as I obtained Alakazamite and Manectrite there during my game.
The fact they’re randomly scattered is still dumb. It means they’re being utilised poorly. Maybe if they were a side function, but not the selling point
Yeah if they were a side quest to get would be more fun
I think focusing a game around Mega’s or Z-Moves is a but dumb, just focus it around what matters. All the Pokémon
Leaked footage of the new combat system
https://media.giphy.com/media/rCftUAVPLExZC/giphy.gif
Real talk tho if its anything remotely similar to DW, heads are gonna have to roll
why
I dont like DW
Nah that’s just people disagreeing on the combat system
The only issue I have is how the localization team would even know about a change in combat. They would know story details of course, but not an alteration to core combat. Personally, I like Pokemon combat how it is. We’ll see if there is an actual changes. I feel like Wi-Fi Battles would be extremely different if dodging, blocking, and the sorts were added to the title. Honestly, it’s too early to say. We’ll just have to wait for more information, which is obviously coming next year.
info may not come out until early 2019
Z-Moves are a pretty bad mechanic compared to megas.
Most of the time in compe, a normal item is better rather than a one time move and a Pokemon getting a mega is much better for it then getting it’s own z move.
So it’s incredibly stupid that they stopped with megas.
With the new battle system, if it is true, when we attack, I wonder if we’ll still be able to select from four moves? I hope that stays as well as taking turns and the rock-paper-scissors mechanic.
If there’s a change in the battle system it won’t kill the core gameplay, so expect four moves to stay
Taking turns is the most likely thing to go if there’s an overhaul, but four moves is much more secure and they’re never going to remove the type chart.
Is anyone else happy that conversation is actually about the article? Way better than petty USUM drama and redundant starter wars :p
Meh, the only problem is its basically the same fight under a different name, just slightly altered
Lol we ain’t fighting just debating and arguing, disagreeing isn’t bad seriously.
I’m actually going to just say it here after a few times of deleting it (I have wanted to say this at least 5 times but always delete it)
This same discussion Star has repeated at least 8 times since USUM’s announcement and now it’s getting on my nerves
The one where she thinks that Pkm should change? What’s so wrong about discussing that? If you it’s getting in your nerves you should just ignore it tho
Heel yeah too bad tomorrow this conversation is gonna die out and we’re gonna get back to the same ol “USUM drama and redundant starter wars” stuff