Back when it was officially known as the NX, Pokemon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara confirmed that at least one Pokemon game was in the works for Nintendo’s next console. A few weeks later, Nintendo pulled the curtain back on the Switch, a console/handheld hybrid that seems like the perfect device to deliver the on-the-go trading and battling the Pokemon franchise is known for.
Hold that thought, as a new rumor report on Eurogamer might possibly be pointing to a re-release of Pokemon Sun and Moon on the Switch.
The Pokemon Company routinely creates a third companion game to go with each pair of Pokemon games in the main series. Red and Blue lead to Yellow, Gold and Silver were joined by Crystal, Diamond and Pearl were enhanced with Platinum… you get the idea. But none of those games managed to jump platforms. If Eurogamer’s sources are correct, fans will be able to explore an enhanced version of Pokemon Sun and Moon, currently codenamed Pokemon Stars, on the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2017.
Said to be in development at Game Freak, Pokemon Stars will include a redone visual presentation and so much more:
Pokemon Stars’ development shouldn’t be seen as taking anything away from Sun and Moon’s launch – this is how all third entries in the Pokemon franchise are developed.
And there will be reason to play both: Pokemon will be tradable between Sun/Moon and Stars via the Pokemon Bank app. We’ve also heard suggestion there will be more creatures to collect in the Switch version, although not all of our sources could confirm this.
Expect the Switch version of Sun and Moon to feature the same map – the same routes and cities – and the same art style, although be built using separate, higher-resolution assets.
Nintendo will let us in on all their Switch secrets on January 12 during a special “Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017” livestream. If Pokemon Stars is in the works, and it is on track for a 2017 release, we’ll probably learn more about it then.
In the meantime, Pokemon Sun and Moon can be found on store shelves for the 3DS as of today.
