All Articles: Pokemon Switch

Analysts and fans alike have been waiting for a handheld-focused “Switch Mini” (and the death of the 3DS) ever since the launch of Nintendo’s newest console back in 2017. With the 3DS being put out to pasture earlier this year, Nintendo finally made good on the other half of that equation with the announcement of the Switch Lite.

Set to be released on September 20, the Switch Lite will be available in stores for $199.99 in three different colors (Yellow, Turquoise, and Gray). To reach this lower price, Nintendo crafted the Switch Lite as a system that can only be played in Handheld Mode. It features integrated controls, a smaller 5.5″ touchscreen, no HD Rumble, and no support for the Switch Dock.

Nintendo also managed to make some improvements to the platform with the Switch Lite. The handheld will be lighter (just 10 ounces) and with a better battery life (up to seven hours, according to Nintendo). By ditching the Joy-Cons, Nintendo was also able to add a real D-Pad to the left side of the Switch Lite. That said, if you’ve got a pair of Joy-Cons lying around, the Switch Lite will be compatible with the two-fisted controllers for games that can be played in Tabletop Mode (but beware, the Switch Lite won’t have a kickstand).

“Adding Nintendo Switch Lite to the lineup gives gamers more color and price point options,” said Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. “Now consumers can choose the system that best suits how they like to play their favorite Nintendo Switch games.”

Pokemon fans interested in upgrading to the Switch Lite might want to wait until November 8, which is when Nintendo will launch a special “Zacian and Zamazenta Edition” of the handheld alongside Pokemon Sword and Shield.

You can learn more about the Switch Lite via Nintendo’s official website or by viewing the First Look video embedded above.

It’s Pokemon Day today in celebration of the 23rd anniversary of the franchise’s Japanese debut, but Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have given fans yet another reason to celebrate with the announcement of Pokemon Sword and Shield for the Switch.

Developed by Game Freak and set to launch in Late 2019, Pokemon Sword and Shield will take place in the Galar region, which looks to be based on London:

The Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield games take place in the Galar region. Galar is an expansive region with diverse environments— an idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and the Pokemon who live there work together closely to develop the industries in the region. Fans will have the opportunity to visit various Gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become Champion. They will not be alone, since the newly discovered Pokemon they choose to be their first partner will be by their side.

Game Freak is creating three new Starter Pokemon for Pokemon Sword and Shield, and they are Grookey (a Grass-type Chimp Pokemon who is mischievous and full of boundless curiosity), Scorbunny (a Fire-type Rabbit Pokemon who is bursting with energy and always running about), and Sobble (a stealthy Water-type Water Lizard Pokemon who shoots out attacks as it hides itself in water).

The first trailer for Pokemon Sword and Shield has been embedded above, and we’ll likely learn a lot more about it soon.

A passel of Pokemon spinoffs will arrive on the Switch in 2018, but whatever happened to the “Core RPG Pokemon Title” we were promised at E3 2017? According to The Pokemon Company, it’s still in development at Game Freak, and it’ll be released in Late 2019:

With #PokemonQuest and #PokemonLetsGo, there are so many new ways to explore the world of Pokémon! Trainers can look forward to even more with an all-new core series Pokémon RPG title in development for the second half of 2019! pic.twitter.com/d5uiIpenMI

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) May 30, 2018

While it doesn’t tell us much, this tweet does confirm that the next Pokemon RPG won’t be a rehash of Pokemon Sun/Moon. Instead, it’ll be an “all-new” entry in the franchise and the first “Core” Pokemon game to appear on a console.

It’s possible that Nintendo might have more to say about the game during this year’s E3 Expo next month, but it seems more likely that they’ll want to focus on the upcoming Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee! instead.

Pokemon’s upcoming debut on the Nintendo Switch is a constantly evolving story, but another missing piece fell into place today, and it’s looking more and more likely that a “main series” game will be released for the console.

Back in September, The Pokemon Company confirmed that a new game in the franchise was in development for the Switch. However, there was no indication of who was making it, and all signs pointed to yet another spinoff. However, late in the year, a rumor cropped up that said Game Freak was developing an enhanced remake of Pokemon Sun and Moon for the Switch. This game was believed to be in development under the working title of “Pokemon Stars.”

Fast forward to today, and the news that Game Freak is currently hiring at least one developer to work on a console-bound entry in a “long-running” and “globally popular RPG series” starring “people and monsters.”

We could pretend to treat this as another rumor, but where’s the fun in that? Game Freak is clearly hiring developers to work on a new Pokemon game for the Nintendo Switch. The only questions left are… Is it Pokemon Stars? Or is it a brand new game in the franchise (that could still turn out to be a spinoff)?

The 2017 E3 Expo is just a few months away, so we’ll probably learn more about Game Freak’s next Pokemon game sooner rather than later.