‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Pokémon Violet’ to Introduce Gen 9 in Late 2022
Pokémon Legends: Arceus may have just come out, but it seems the Nintendo Switch game isn’t the only thing The Pokémon Company has been working on. During the February 2022 Pokémon Presents, it revealed that Gen 9 is arriving in 2022. The company will roll out the next generation with two new games: Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Pokémon Violet’ announced for 2022
The latest Pokémon Presents had numerous announcements in store for fans, including a much-anticipated update for Arceus. However, the biggest reveal was saved for last: that the ninth generation would arrive sometime in 2022.
Rumors of a Pokémon Gen 9 announcement circulated ahead of the live stream, and it turns out they had some truth to them. The next two games are called Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. They’ll introduce fans to new areas and Pokédex entries, though we don’t know many details just yet.
Nintendo revealed both Switch games with a trailer, which briefly showed what the next installments will look like. It seems the pair will feature some elements of Arceus and some aspects of Sword and Shield. Most notably, the new games look to embrace an open-world format while keeping the battles and setup of the main gameplay.
The announcement didn’t reveal much outside of that. However, the end of the trailer did unveil the Gen 9 starter Pokémon.
Gen 9 starters teased during live stream
The end of the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet trailer showcased the three Gen 9 starters fans can expect. The Grass-type starter is a green cat, the Water-type is a blue duck, and the Fire-type starter appears to be a crocodile.
Following the event, Nintendo posted the Pokémon’s English names and other details about the trio online. The Grass-type is Sprigatito, the Fire-type is Fuecoco, and the Water-type is Quaxly.
There’s no word on what other newcomers will join Gen 9 or what the Legendaries will look like. Of course, fans already have plenty to talk about with the starters. And their reactions are a mixture of excitement and exasperation.
How fans are reacting to Pokémon’s Gen 9 announcement
Although numerous fans were hoping for a Gen 9 announcement at Pokémon Presents, just as many were wary of one. And that split is evident in the reactions to the new games and starters. Once news of Scarlet and Violet surfaced, fans were quick to share their thoughts online. And making fun of the starters is basically a tradition at this point. Quaxly is already the focus of several memes, including ones that compare it to Donald Duck.
Still, gamers seem enthusiastic about Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet overall. Both Nintendo Switch releases are slated to arrive later in 2022. Fans can expect more details as the year progresses.
