After plenty of online speculation around whether it would actually happen, The Pokémon Company has released a statement about "another company's game" released in January 2024. And we can say what we're all thinking: Palworld.

Though the company doesn't name Palworld or Pocketpair outright, the assumption is that's what this statement is about, unless Prince of Persia has a super-secret stage I don't know about. But the statement says The Pokémon Company has received "many inquiries" regarding another company's game released in January 2024, and TPC says it intends to "investigate and take appropriate measures" to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property (IP) rights related to Pokémon.

"We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future," the company signs off.

I'm not your Pal, buddy

After what's felt like ages, in Internet time, of speculation over whether The Pokémon Company would take notice and do anything about the similarities between the Pals of Palworld and its own pocket monsters, this is at least a firm declaration that the company is paying attention.

I can't really speak to any legality for or against here, I just write the video game blogs. But I'd have to imagine that certain efforts like the Pokémon mod for Palworld didn't do much to douse the fuse on this powder keg.

We'll see now if Pocketpair makes any response, even though they weren't explicitly named. In a recent interview with Automaton, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe said: "We make our games very seriously, and we have absolutely no intention of infringing upon the intellectual property of other companies."

Other than that, we'll just have to wait and see whether TPC's investigation results in them taking any action. I used to think I'd always look back on the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard announcement as the most stunning start-of-year declaration, but now the War of the Monsters might give it a run for its money.

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As soon as the Internet first got its first look at juggernaut-to-be Palworld, many began accusing it of looking a lot like, well, let's not play that game — you know what I'm talking about.

Still, it seems as if it's not enough to quench all that thirst for Pokémon content, as YouTuber ToastedShoes posted a video of a modded version of the game, replacing the pals with Pokémon and making the main character Ash.

Mechanics-wise, Palworld seems to remain essentially the same, but it feels like a weird new thing. It's hard to avoid looking at Misty holding a shotgun and not think of the possibilities for a zombie apocalypse game set in the world of Pokémon.

The mod isn't out yet for everyone, but Nintendo has shown they're watching by immediately taking down ToastedShoes' original announcement of the mod. ToastedShoes claims he wants to give people access to the mod as soon as he sees fit.

This mod gives me all sorts of mixed feelings. Hurting pals might feel weird sometimes, but we've known them for what, not even a week? Vanilla Palworld allows players the excuse that Pals are trying to usurp the place that Pokémon have in our hearts to instill great violence upon them. Pokémon, on the other hand, are the creatures most of us grew up loving and not wanting to 360º quickscope.

That's why I feel much worse for laughing at the idea of clobbering a poor Wooloo to death and seeing it rolling down a hill like a ball than I would its Palworld counterpart.

The same goes for seeing Pikachus doing mining work. Shocking stuff — is what I would say if they were using their electric powers instead of those pickaxes.

Even though Palworld combines elements such as survival, building, gunplay, and the possibility of committing acts of unbridled cruelty, many still refer to it as just "Pokémon with guns". That's both reductive and dumb because the name Gunkémon was right there. You can now enjoy this wild ride on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox X|S.

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After initially planning to launch the series in late February, the premiere date of Pokémon Horizons on Netflix has been pushed back a couple of weeks. The next iteration of the anime series will now launch the first week of March in the United States.

No reason was given for the nearly two-week delay, but the Pokémon Company did drop a new trailer to help make the wait a bit less painful.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series now begins streaming on March 7

Netflix confirmed that the new premiere date for Pokémon Horizons in the U.S. is Thursday, March 7. It's only a 13-day delay, but still a delay nonetheless. Eager fans ready to continue on with the anime series will have to wait a wee bit longer.

As for the new Pokémon Horizons trailer, it's really just more of what we've already seen. We're teased with the new lead duo of Liko and Roy in the Kanto region. There are mysterious pendants, new friends and foes, and of course, fresh Pokémon to catch.

We'll journey along with you when Pokémon Horizons: The Series begins streaming March 7.

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Let’s get the obvious talking point out of the way: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are divisive games. Generation IX has caught a lot of heat for its glitches and lack of polish, but despite that, I personally have still had fun with these games. So someone like me should love The Indigo Disk, right?

Let me explain: here at Destructoid, we’ve played hot potato with Pokémon review duties. CJ Andriessen and Eric Van Allen reviewed Pokémon Violet and Scarlet respectively, each arriving at the same “6/10” score. And later, the impeccable Chris Carter took the reins on the first DLC pack, The Teal Mask, who concluded that it wasn’t as good as The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and also gave a 6/10.

We’re not necessarily bound to each other’s scores as an outlet, but sometimes things just line up that way. And for that reason, I really wanted to throw my own take in on Generation IX before we move on to whatever GameFreak has lined up next.

With The Indigo Disk, I expected to give these Pokémon games a day in the sun and maybe even give a slightly more generous score. After all, this second DLC clearly offers more than The Teal Mask did. There’s no way that The Indigo Disk could be worse than The Teal Mask, right?

Well, the good news is that, yes, The Indigo Disk absolutely is the superior DLC pack compared to The Teal Mask. It also fumbles in ways that wound up making me feel the most frustrated I’ve ever been with the Pokémon franchise to date. It turns out even I have my limits.

Prepare for trouble, and make it double

Early in The Indigo Disk, you’ll learn that Blueberry Academy is full of hardcore trainers who prefer double battles. Seeing as how Pokémon's officially sanctioned competitive scene focuses on double battles, I enjoyed seeing the main game prioritize this format.

The Indigo Disk does a good job pitting you against common strategies in high-level play. For example, more than a few trainers will incorporate support Pokémon into their teams, using stat boosting moves or throwing in a Protect to block your incoming damage. Additionally, enemy trainers aren’t afraid to equip impactful held items on their Pokémon. Think you can just nuke every enemy you see with glass cannons like usual? Not if your opponent’s Focus Sash has anything to say about it.

Level the playing field

As our own Chris “Master Trainer” Carter mentioned in his review of The Teal Mask, Pokémon DLC has a leveling issue. And while The Indigo Disk fares better than its predecessor here, it suffers from the same problem. Wild Pokémon are level 60ish, boss battles are level 70ish, and the postgame breaks into level 80ish content.

Unfortunately, the dedicated Pokémon fanbase most interested in DLC most likely has a max level team already. And while battles against the Elite Four fare decently, that’s only a single digit number of battles that stand out. I can understand balancing the DLC in a way that’s accessible to people who didn’t do any postgame grinding. But ideally, the DLC should offer ways to please both crowds.

Throw out the BBQ

Despite the endless quest potential inherent to an open world Pokémon game, Blueberry Quests largely consist of aimlessly walking around, taking pictures of Pokémon, catching a Pokémon of a certain type, and making TMs and sandwiches. One might think these quests will escalate in complexity as you go, but… nope. It is seriously just a rotation of generic open-world busywork that starts repeating almost immediately. And once again, this system is where The Indigo Disk puts all its cards.

Oh yeah, Area Zero

And as far as that core story goes, it… exists. I’m not going to pretend like I expect literary excellence from a Pokémon game. That said, Scarlet & Violet tried this weird thing where it presented generally likable and endearing characters. Nemona, Penny, and especially Arven turned into a great party of friends, and seeing how the final story arc of the base game unfolded made me really want to see more of this world and cast.

So you can understand how disappointed I feel that both DLC packs have little to do with the core games.

Missed opportunities

Pokémon has such a rich foundation that could be taken in so many different directions. What's more, there's clearly a market hungry for that. Take one look at YouTube, and you’ll find challenge runs of classic Pokémon games with millions of views. Fans are eager for creative ways to play Pokémon. So why does the official DLC offer “take a picture of a swimming Pokémon?”

There are so many possibilities to explore with Pokémon, yet The Indigo Disk does precious little to get creative. Imagine if the two DLC packs were combined into one standalone adventure that was balanced around training and leveling the new Pokémon? Or what if the DLC centered around a roguelike experience where you never knew which Pokémon you’d use each run? I’m not saying those are good ideas, but they are ideas. I’d rather see a swing and a miss than the busywork we have now.

It's more Pokemon

I’d understand if, by this point, you think I completely hate The Indigo Disk. But despite all these misgivings, I did have some fun with this DLC. Exploring the new Terarium and catching Pokémon put a smile on my face, and those battles where everything really clicked were fun to play. I do still think Scarlet & Violet are enjoyable, and neither DLC pack necessarily changes that. Heck, if I was feeling generous, I’d say the focus on double battles here is a step in the right direction.

However, at this point, I’m so tired of seeing Pokémon “take a step in the right direction”. As a reminder, this is the highest grossing multimedia franchise in the entire world. Yet this is at least the second generation in a row that’s left me hoping the team will get it right next time. As it is, Pokémon Legends Arceus was a huge “step in the right direction,” but Scarlet & Violet learned precious little from it. DLC like The Indigo Disk could have rounded out the base games in areas they originally lacked in. Instead, it’s just more. An influx of sheer content, as if we’ll forget Pokémon even exists if we don’t have something shoved in front of our faces every year.

In the past, all this stuff might have bothered me less. But Pokémon's longevity has made it one of the main ways I can connect with my younger family members. Seeing even them wonder why Scarlet & Violet perform like they’re hanging by a thread on the Switch over a year later is inexcusable to me. And with how much The Indigo Disk tees up a Generation V remake, I’m honestly dreading how hard Unova will get butchered at this rate. I’d love to be proven wrong, but at this point, I’m not really counting on it

The Indigo Disk is more Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, for better or for worse. If you’re still deep into Generation IX, you’ll at least get mileage out of exploring the new areas and seeing the new Pokémon and TMs. But beyond that, The Indigo Disk neither offers a compelling challenge for longtime fans nor a chill grind for more casual fans. Players can at least take solace in that this second half of the DLC is generally better than the first. But for those frustrated by the rushed yearly cycle of Pokémon games, The Indigo Disk will only reaffirm your misgivings.

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After over 1,200 episodes and well over a dozen films, Ash Ketchum's Pokémon journey concluded earlier this year. But you'd be crazy if you thought that would be the end of the immensely successful anime series. Pokémon Horizons is on the way to pick up the mantle, with Netflix confirming in a new trailer that it will begin airing stateside early next year.

Pokémon Horizons features a new duo of Liko and Roy, each with a starter from the Paldea region. Liko is paired with the grass-type Sprigatito, while Roy adventures around with the fire-type Fuecoco. The trailer introduces us to Liko and explains she has traveled to where it all began, the Kanto region, to enroll in the Indigo Academy. We also meet Roy, a young native of the Kanto region with a passion for becoming a Pokémon trainer. Sound familiar?

Liko and Roy both possess artifacts that the Explorers, the Team Rocket-like group of Horizons, are seeking to take. Liko has a mysterious pendant passed down to her from her grandmother. While Roy has an ancient-looking Poké Ball that raises questions of its own.

The duo isn't alone though, as a group known as the Rising Volt Tacklers come to their aid in the show. The group is headlined by its own duo of Friede and Captain Pikachu, with Friede riding atop a fierce-looking Charizard of his own.

The series will start streaming on Netflix beginning February 23, 2024, which purposely coincides with the timing of Pokémon Day celebrations for 2024.

Pokémon Horizons isn't the only Pokémon series Netflix has coming down the pipeline though, as the fantastic-looking stop-motion animated Pokémon Concierge begins streaming on December 28.

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Talk about adorable! Two new Pokémon Squishmallows are available for preorder and they’re the cutest thing ever. The two new Squishmallows recently went live for pre-order the Pokémon Center website after an announcement of the new plushies earlier this year.

The Pokémon joining the Pokémon Squishmallow family are Clefairy and Teddiursa, two earlier-introduced species. Long-time fans of the franchise will be happy to see Generation I and Generation II characters as adorable plushies. Some of the other Pokémon that have been featured as Squishmallows are Snorlax, Togepi, Piplup and various versions of Pikachu.

Clefairy is a Fairy type Pokémon introduced in the first generation of Pokémon in 1996 ('98 for North America). Teddiursa is a Normal type Pokémon introduced to the franchise in Generation II, through Pokémon Gold and Silver. 

Something fans may not know about Clefairy is that it’s an extraterrestrial Pokémon, meaning that it isn’t from Earth. The bubbly pink Pokemon is best known for being cute, among many other creatures in the franchise. Teddiursa, on the other hand, is very down to earth. The little bear Pokémon is known to have paws drenched in honey. For comfort when nervous, Teddiursa will lick its paws (cuteness overload, am I right?).

Squishmallow x Pokemon

Squishmallows are a California-based stuffed toy business that specializes in turning popular video game and anime characters into adorable plushies. In 2022, the Pokémon Company partnered with Jazwares to bring their franchise to Squishmallows. Since then, they’ve released loads of cute Squishmallows.

Currently, the Squishmallows are only available for preorder on the official Pokémon website in the US for $29.99 apiece. Once live, the Squishmallows will take around 5-9 business days to ship. These 12-inch cuties also come with an embroidered Pokémon Center Poke Ball logo.

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Earlier this year, it was revealed that a stop-motion animated Pokemon series is in the works. We've gotten our first trailer and it's outrageously cute.

The Pokemon Company has partnered with Netflix to produce Pokemon Concierge. The series follows a girl named Haru (voiced by Karen Fukuhara) who begins work at a tropical Pokemon Resort. She quickly discovers just how peaceful the resort can be but it's not all relaxing, as she also has to ensure the Pokemon have a good time.

The stop-motion is being done by Dwarf Animation which also handles My Dad the Bounty Hunter. All the Pokemon look criminally cuddly with their felt skin and adorable cries. The trailer features a catchy theme song by Mariya Takeuchi, and it gives the impression that we'll be in for a tranquil but action-packed adventure.

Haru will meet Tyler, Alisa, and Watanabe during her time at the Pokemon Resort. The original animated series has been running since 1997, so you aren't alone if you've had more than enough of it. This unique spin-off could be a great way to get old fans interested in the Pokemon world again.

The series has four episodes that are 14-20 minutes each. It hits Netflix on December 28.

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The second half of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC is officially on the schedule. The Pokémon Company announced that you can catch the Indigo Disk when it's released on December 14.

The latter half of The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC will be arriving for Nintendo Switch systems on December 14, 2023. The Indigo Disk takes players to a much different biome of sorts: the Blueberry Academy, an advanced school located in the middle of the ocean.

We've seen a good deal of info about Indigo Disk already, including its battle-focused structure and open area. The Pokémon Company revealed in August that all of the mainline Pokémon series' starters would be in the new zone. However, it wasn't clear if that included Quaxly, Sprigatito, and Fuecoco of Scarlet and Violet.

The first half of The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero, The Teal Mask, arrived for Switch players in September. Our review essentially described the new content as more of the same. There was a new location introduced (Kitakami) in the DLC which offered a campaign of four or five hours. There were additional side quests, a handful of new Pokémon, new outfits, and a few other extras. But no real corrections were made to the core issues that plagued this Pokémon generation since launch.

We'll see how the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet The Indigo Disk fares when it arrives in December.

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Well, this is just Trubbish. The Van Gogh Museum, which recently held a Pokemon collab that got a bit hectic, announced it will no longer distribute its Pikachu promo card at the physical exhibit starting October 14. If you want the Pikachu in Grey Felt Hat collaboration card, you'll have to shop online for a qualifying purchase.

As spotted by PokeJungle, the Van Gogh Museum explained it's no longer offering the Pikachu in Grey Felt Hat promo card in person thanks to "a small group of individuals" it says "created an undesirable situation." Without the chaos around the card giveaway, the museum believes fans can visit the Pokemon exhibit in a safe, enjoyable experience.

However, the Pokemon Center will have the Pikachu card available later for online shoppers in the USA, Canada, and the UK, but no date was given. It will also go to various retailers in the Netherlands sometime next year.

The Museum also notes it's still selling merchandise at the exhibit; it's just the Van Gogh Pikachu dropping from its offerings. Those items are up in its online store, too. Restocks happen weekly, so don't panic if the Van Gogh Museum's online store hits you with an "out of stock" notice.

Can't Catch a Break

When the Pokemon exhibit was announced late September, many were in love with the concept. I mean, who doesn't want to see a Post-Impressionist painting of Snorlax? As always, there were people who saw it as a means to make a quick buck. So, when the event happened, droves of people flooded the Amsterdam museum to get their hands on merch, causing quite a stir. This led to the Van Gogh Museum pausing sales and an apology from the Pokemon Company.

The exhibit is still around, so if you do want to go as a real fan, tickets are still available. The Pokemon x Van Gogh event runs until January 7.

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Detective Pikachu isn't the only live-action Pokemon offshoot in existence. There's also a Japanese TV series on the way, but don't expect to see more CG-animated Pokémon waltzing about in this one. Per Crunchyroll news, Pocket ni Boken o Tsumekonde — Pack Your Pockets with Adventure, or PokéTsume for short —is a Pokemon-inspired drama that aims to mine a very specific type of nostalgia. In particular, nostalgia aimed at folks who grew up on the original Game Boy and the first Pokemon games. 

Madoka Akagi is one such person, and she's about to rediscover the adventures she loved as a child. She's currently moving to Tokyo to pursue her ambitions as a creator, and receives something very special during the move. Her family gives her a Game Boy Pocket and Pokemon Red as a parting gift. Since she grew up playing Pokemon, she's immediately ready to dive back into its world. You can hear those familiar sounds and watch as her work life intermingles with her rekindled love for 'Mon in the first trailer for the drama. 

Once a game freak

The actor in the role of Madoka is Nanase Nishino. She's played roles like Hiromi in Shin Kamen Rider, but she has an even better qualification for PokéTsume. She's a Pokémon fan in real life, so playing someone like Madoka should come naturally.

PokéTsume was created as a collaboration between Pokémon Inc. and TV Tokyo. Its premiere is right around the corner as part of the network's MokuDora24 slot on October 19. 

Beyond this, there's also that live-action Pokemon series in the works at Netflix and a Detective Pikachu sequel. It's been a while since we heard anything about either, so maybe we're better off firing up our Game Boys like Madoka in the meantime. 

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Aside from some legendary monsters and surprisingly strong event battles, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet loves pitting players against starter Pokemon from previous generations in Tera Raid battles. And this weekend, it seems like we'll return to that standard with a slight twist. As the next 7-Star Tera Raid event, all Pokemon Scarlet & Violet trainers will face off against Hisuian Decidueye.

According to the official Pokemon account on Twitter, the Hisuian Decidueye Tera Raid will utilize the Grass Tera Type. By default it's a Grass/Fighting-Type hybrid, though its movepool has a lot of potential coverage. So while several Pokemon fare well against Grass-Types, you may need to wait until we know its attacks to form an optimal counter. Like past 7-Star raids, this one will feature the Mightiest Mark that gives it the "Unrivaled" title if you catch it, which is a nice perk for hardcore collectors.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Decidueye in a Tera Raid. In fact, the last time we saw this ‘mon in Scarlet & Violet was last March. However, this one is specifically the Hisuian variant from Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

This raid will be available in two date ranges: October 5 at 9:00 a.m. JST / 8:00 p.m. EST to October 9 at 8:59 a.m. JST / 7:59 p.m. EST, and then again on October 12 at 9:00 a.m. JST / 8:00 p.m. EST to October 15 at 8:59 a.m. JST / 7:59 p.m. EST. Whether you challenge Hisuian Decidueye this weekend or next weekend, best of luck!

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It never fails to amaze me when massively popular companies host events with products they know will be massively popular with their base, but then act surprised when the event is, surprise, massively popular. That mostly sums up what happened with the recent Pokemon Center x Van Gogh Museum event, resulting in an apology from the the official Pokemon Twitter.

For those unaware, Pokemon and Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum are hosting an in-person collaboration until January 7, 2024. The event launched with Pokemon memorabilia, and purchases included a limited edition promo card. Pokemon's TCG featured “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,” based on the famous “Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat” by Vincent van Gogh. I know, it’s cute!

But, due to the exclusivity of the event — it’s not likely that every Pokemon fan can travel to Amsterdam, after all — the company offered fans elsewhere shopping alternatives. Folks in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada could score their own promo card simply by purchasing an item from the Pokemon x Van Gogh Museum Collection at the Pokemon Center online store. That didn't go as planned, leaving the company to apologize as the cards and limited goodies sold out.

“Due to overwhelming demand, all our products from this collection have sold out,” read @Pokemon's tweet. “We understand this is disappointing to many who were looking to our official email and social media channels for guidance on how and when to purchase.”

Hmm. I wonder why this happened? It couldn’t be because Pokemon is — say it with me — massively popular, could it? As usual, giving the internet means of obtaining exclusive items brings scalpers out of the woodwork buying up the lot. On the bright side, the company said it's exploring options to make this right for fans who missed out.

“We are actively working on ways to provide more "Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat" promo cards for fans shopping at Pokémon Center in the future. Details will be released at a later date,” the post concluded.

It's not the first time scalpers quickly bought up goods intended for fans, and it certainly won't be the last. We've seen everything from cheaper items like Metroid Prime physical copies to whole consoles marked up in the greedy rush. Anyway, here's to hoping those of you who want a card can get one.

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Dusting off an old game and cracking into your save file is always a gamble. Those batteries aren't exactly famous for functioning decades after their prime, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I popped my original Pokémon Red cart into an Analogue Pocket. Would it be a reunion with old friends or a bittersweet funeral with no guests? Amazingly, all my old pals were right there waiting for me, and it's my pleasure to present the party I sent into the game's Elite Four battles. Judge away, reminisce, but please, hammer, don't hurt 'em. 

Like dino DNA embedded in amber, my team remains just as I left it way back in 1998. I dare not disclose how old I was at the time, but I vividly remember lying back in bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling while visiting my aunt in Utah. Trying to catch 'em all was a welcome distraction, and apparently I've had false memories of doing just that for the past 25 years. Game Boy cartridges don't lie, though, and according to mine I left my Pokédex at a middling 102 'Mon.

Gotta rename 'em all

I've never really been a post-game player. Unless I'm especially obsessed, once the credits roll, I'm out. That must have been the case with Pokémon Red, even if the anime and its many imitators that followed were still considered appointment viewing at the time. The only thing that mattered was making it through the final gauntlet of Pokémon showdowns. Emerging victorious against my rival was a real triumph at the time, and I couldn't have done it without a reliable squad. 

All the fan-favorites are still present and accounted for in my cart. You know 'em by name, I'm sure. There's Divebomb, Venom, and Genetimew. You can practically hear their names being belted out of your TV screen against the backdrop of the "Pokémon Rap" beat. I choose you, Dr. Zaius! So, who are these creatures really? Who did I deem strong enough to carry me through the endgame and beyond? Let's take a look at this sterling starting lineup.

Tentacool (Level 16)

Nickname: Feeler

Obviously I did, and still do, hold a great deal of respect for Tentacool. It's just cool; heck, it's in the name. Is that why I clearly never bothered to level it up high enough to evolve into Tentacruel? It's hard to imagine I got that much use out of a level 16 Pokémon in the final stretch of monster battling. Sometimes you have friends that aren't as strong as the rest. That doesn't mean you dump 'em in a ditch and leave them behind forever. Its alias is self-explanatory and maybe even a little gross. 

Pidgeot (Level 42)

Nickname: Divebomb

Ranking a lot higher on the list of characters I carried with me through most of the game is Pidgeot, who I carefully evolved from Pidgey and Pidgeotto. Having a Flying-Type Pokémon nicknamed Divebomb is about as on the nose as it gets, but I couldn't have made it through all those trials without them by my side. 

Voltorb (Level 20)

Nickname: Poketrap

This is another one that baffles me in retrospect. Much like Tentacool, I guess I never bothered putting in the work to evolve Voltorb into Electrode. Maybe it's that menacing grimace that kept me from grinding it out to level 30 and beyond. Or maybe this dinky electric ball was just collecting dust in my pocket for roughly 37 hours and some change. The world will literally never know. 

Venusaur (Level 71)

Nickname: Venom

My first 'Mon ever. My dude. The Starter you choose says a lot about you as a person, and mine says "I don't feel like being challenged right now." Going through Pokémon Red with a high-level Grass-Type is a cinch, and Venusaur is about as balanced as it gets against most would-be title-takers. Would I choose Bulbasaur from the start if I had to do it all over again (spoilers: I will have to)? Absolutely. Though Squirtle is pretty tempting, too. 

Mewtwo (Level 73)

Nickname: Genetimew

Mewtwo? You mean the star of turn-of-the-millennium family adventure anime film Pokémon: The First Movie? Yeah, that's right, we're pals. I got this genetically modified monster nice 'n beefy, so you know it got a ton of use in my final lineup. It might have even dealt the finishing blow, who knows. After 25 years pretty much everything about my time with this game is headcanon. 

Note from Destructoid Guide Editor Timothy Monbleau: I have informed Joseph that Mewtwo could not have been on his Elite Four team, since you can only unlock it after entering the Hall of Fame. Not without trading, glitching, or cheating, at least. However, out of respect for his headcanon, I have left this section as-is. Please let me know in the comments if you knew Joseph Luster as a child and can confirm he actually had a haunted copy of Pokemon Red.

Primeape (Level 29)

Nickname: Dr. Zaius

What's wrong with me? 
I think you're crazy. 
Want a second opinion. 
You're also lazy! 

Mix a young man who mainlined The Simpsons and played a lot of video games and you end up with a Primeape named Dr. Zaius. Coming in just one level past the threshold of evolving from Mankey, odds are strong that I kept this one just for the name. 

Last rites

So, how's my party looking? Are they studs or duds? Well, whatever you may think, I hope you're not speaking ill of the dead. That's right, in the time it took me to boot up Red and write this article, my save file finally kicked the bucket. Maybe it was hanging on for one last spin. Maybe it just wanted to remind me that I never caught 'em all back in '98. Either way, I salute these six 'Mon and thank them endlessly for their service while introducing me to a wider world that's still as vibrant as ever today. 

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In the Pokemon Presents that premiered August 8, the Pokemon Company announced a new animated miniseries set in Paldea entitled Pokemon: Paldean Winds. And now, the first episode of Paldean Winds has been released for free via the official Pokemon channel on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyMxQl-PeJE

The episode, which is entitled “Breathe Out,” clocks in at around 11 minutes in length and follows Ohara, a student at Naranja Academy. Ohara is a flutist who has been asked to create a video project celebrating the school’s legacy with fellow students Aliquis and Hohma. But, due to a staggering amount of pressure, Ohara journeys to Glaceado Mountain with her loyal Fuecoco companion in search of her treasure.

The series will have a total of four episodes and is produced by WIT STUDIO, who eagle-eyed anime fans will recognize as the team behind the first three seasons of Attack on Titan as well as one of the studios behind the smash hit SPY x FAMILY. In the Pokemon world, WIT STUDIO also produced the three-episode miniseries, Pokemon: Hisuian Snow.

I’d hate to spoil the episode too severely, but given it’s already dubbed into English, we now have official voices for several characters from Scarlet and Violet: Nemona, Arven, and Clavell. Nemona is voiced by Olivia Vidas, Arven by Henry Mason, and Clavell is voiced by Pete Zarustica. In terms of main cast, Ohara is voiced by Cat Protano, Aliquis by Paul Castro Jr., and Hohma by Caroline Spinola.

If you’d like to get on-board the Paldean Winds train while it’s still early, the first episode is available for free via YouTube. That is, presumably, where the remaining three episodes will be posted.

The post Pokémon: Paldean Winds debuts on YouTube for free appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're still playing Pokemon Go, you're probably going to be jazzed about the latest addition to the game: the Paldea region. A handful of new creatures are entering the fray soon, which is scheduled for a September 5 at 10AM (local) through September 10 through 10AM (local) debut.

Because it's Niantic, this isn't a full kickoff for Scarlet & Violet; just a drip-fed rollout of a select few characters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRYjvkKwkmA

Here's the full list of Paldean Pokemon coming to Pokemon Go at launch:

Bringing a selection of Paldean Pokemon into the fray still isn't a big win

Rubbing salt in the wound, Niantic also announced in that same blog post that Unowns were returning to the raid pool, but they haven't addressed many complaints from fans earlier this year. There are constant posts on many communities talking about how they play less (myself included) after the remote raid price was hiked to 195 Pokecoins in March of 2023. This is on top of stingy reward payouts for players.

Oddly, Generation 8 starters (and much of the Galar region in general) are nowhere to be found, which is confusing a ton of fans. The Pokemon Company has a lot of sway here in terms of what actually gets rolled out when, but Niantic's track record has given folks pause as to when that might actually happen.

The post More Scarlet & Violet creatures are coming to Pokemon Go soon appeared first on Destructoid.

The best menu screens in games can be articulated in many ways, just like the sheer amount of options you can get from the feature itself. In my mind, they're determined by the music, the visuals, and how unique they can be. You don't want to see a bland introduction to a magnificent game. Here are the top 10 best main menu screens in games, ranked.

Before we start, I have some honorable mentions. While it's too soon to rank this alongside long-standing greats, Sea of Stars' main menu screen is an impressive introduction to its world. The flickering of the flames reflecting on the pixel-based characters, and the gorgeous backdrop is absolutely stunning. Additionally, Rayman 2: The Great Escape's menu features strange, yet enticing music with a view of the world we're about to explore. There's also a cute teensie on the left side, welcoming you to the game with its hat.

[caption id="attachment_400167" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

10. Super Metroid

During the SNES era, gamers weren't anticipating a cinematic introduction to the game. However, Super Metroid features tense music and neat transitions of scenes that feature the creepy sci-fi world of the game. It then reveals a Metroid trapped within a pipe with the machinery flickering in green light. It's genuinely creepy to see fallen bodies next to the machine as well. It's a perfect introduction to this game.

[caption id="attachment_399796" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

9. Psychonauts

Double Fine is a developer known for its wild worlds, game concepts, and characters. This menu follows that same idea. One of the strangest (and coolest) is in Psychonauts, in which you're Raz running around a brain. The concept of the game is that you're trying to fix the issues of a person by infiltrating their mind. It's a clever main menu concept for a game like this and is certainly unique. I also love Double Fine's record-based main menu design in Brutal Legend, but Psychonauts just edges it out.

[caption id="attachment_399797" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

8. L.A. Noire

This may be a controversial pick, but L.A. Noire has a unique menu design that complements the subject matter. You get the old-fashioned black-and-white styling mixed in with a shadowy figure of the text. The light shone from the car gives a wonderful effect on the brick wall, adding to the atmosphere of the scene. While it can be annoying to have a gentleman walking in and out of the menu, it's certainly an interesting take on this classic gaming feature that we haven't seen before.

https://youtu.be/cHGF302fBZk

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Yes, this is a simplistic menu for such a huge RPG like Starfield, but it more than makes up for it with the theme alone. You hear a majestic choir and triumphant orchestra calling to you. It gets you pumped for the adventure you're about to have. The logo also looks iconic amongst the white mist and the black background.

https://youtu.be/njoPUWILwpo

6. Pokemon Red & Blue

Despite the limited power of the Game Boy, Pokemon Red & Blue still had amazing intros and menus. You see two Pokemon fighting it out in the intro underscored by a memorable theme song. It then constantly switches between the different Pocket Monsters you'll find in the game like Snorlax, Mankey, and Ditto. It's simple but "super effective"at introducing us to the world of Pokemon. 

https://youtu.be/DRgLR-cPMls

5. Xenoblade Chronicles

The Xenoblade Chronicles title screen is super simple. You see the Monado sword stuck in the ground all by itself. However, the beauty of the world surrounds us as day turns to night. You also see the shine of the metal blade against the sunlight, which is a nice touch. The Monado also glows in the dark as the stars shine brightly above. The emotional music is engrossing as you simply stare at this stunning scene. This is one of the best main menu screens just from how stunning it is.

https://youtu.be/kAwwQ7dTjRY

4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

I know, many say that Ocarina of Time's menu screen is better, but the one from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess holds more prestige for me. You see Link riding Epona valiantly across the Bridge of Eldin and the wilderness of Hyrule. In the background is a somewhat creepy choir singing the main theme of the game. Then, the intro transitions to Wolf Link who howls to a strange golden wall in the distance.

You also have a hint of the "Midna's Theme" from the music, hinting at how prevalent your partner will be in the plot and gameplay. You're then left with a feeling of dread as you only have the sound of wind to keep you company. It's a brilliant main menu that pulls you into the intended darker atmosphere of the game.

https://youtu.be/IM-r2hxtO8g

3. Kingdom Hearts 2

Possibly with the prettiest main menu theme ever "Dearly Beloved," Kingdom Hearts 2 has one of the best intros in gaming history. The credits roll and the music begins to build up. As you begin to see Sora emerge into the title screen, you hear the harp play and the bass strings refer to the protagonist.

It sounds like an orchestra prepping to play before a concert occurs. It then calms down for a brief second until the full menu appears. Then, the piano begins to play the main melody, and each wonderful instrument of the piece blends together in a truly "beloved" way.

Seeped with the sound of waves from Sora's home world Destiny Islands, you remember where the end goal lies. The blue streak to the right also has a wave-like gradient to it. I just noticed this as I was writing, but the color of the streak goes from navy to turquoise to yellow like a beach. Neat!

[caption id="attachment_399816" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

2. Persona 5

Persona 5 has so much style behind its UI and graphical ingenuity. However, the main menu stands out as well. The introduction of the train pop art and then the Phantom Thieves at a stop is fantastic. I love the striking red and white style as you see the trains beside them rush on either side.

The music gives you the depiction that this is going to be a cool, suave adventure. When Futaba gets off her seat, you'll see a graffiti mark on her seat. It also shows Haru in the back, showing her more shy side.

Personally, I prefer the calmer nature of this scene to the more energetic Persona 5 Royal's, but it's a personal taste, for sure. It gives a more underground feel that matches the Phantom Thieves better.

https://youtu.be/ZT9DST_M_g8

1. Mega Man 2

Admittedly, I haven't grown up during the NES era, but my goodness, this is one of the greatest main menu screens in a game, bar none. You start with an overview of the city with a brief summary of the story. The music begins slow and pleasant, but as the camera moves up the skyscraper, the music gets faster until you get one of the most badass menu themes ever. You can't help but get hyped.

You see Megaman's hair waving in the air as he readies himself for his tough adventure. When you choose a selection, he then teleports away. Despite having better technology today, this main menu still stands as one of the most epic. Let's set out and defeat each of the bosses (or at least hope we can). This is one of the best main menu screens ever just due to the excitement I get every time I boot it up.

The post Top 10 best menu screens in games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

We’re quickly approaching the launch of the first DLC for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and with it has come a dripfeed of new monster info. GameFreak seems happy to stir the pot so far, with reveals like a 19^th Tera Type without much context. Yet the recently released video for the Grass/Ghost-Type Pokémon Poltchageist is wild even by those standards. I’m going to spoil the heck out of it, so watch the short yourself if you want the blind experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMWrwe9fJJk

Our story starts with an older man at a festival telling a ghost story to an audience of children. Apparently, once upon a time, there was a tea master who was an obsessive perfectionist. He was so obsessive that he would yell at any guest handling his tea, leaving him alone with his craft. With no one to share his work with, he tumbled over and “fainted from exhaustion,” which the audience is meant to interpret as “this guy was so angry that he left this mortal coil.”

The master’s tea caddy changes hands in the years to come. But as you might expect from the tone of this story, that caddy is hella haunted. Filled with rage and matcha in equal measure, it proceeds to drain the life force from at least one person who angers it so it can repair everything from cracked cups to phone screens. Then Poltchageist drains life force from the audience of sleeping children before ending the video by winking at the camera.

I’ve watched this final scene three times, and I still can’t decide what’s going on. Is Poltchageist draining life force from the food, or is it straight-up attacking children?

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1693987183429116263

Poltchageist is maybe in the top 20 of most disturbing Pokémon

As longtime fans know, Pokémon isn’t afraid to get weirdly dark with its Pokémon backstories. I don’t know who wrote Yamask’s Pokedex entries, but I hope someone gave them a hug afterwards.

As for the raw gameplay details, there’s still a lot we don’t know about Poltchageist. It's very similar to Polteageist, even though it seems to share no relationship to the monster. It also joins a surprisingly robust roster of Ghost/Grass-Type Pokémon, including Generation 9’s Bramblin and Brambleghast.

From context, we can assume Poltchageist will rely heavily on draining moves. It apparently knows the ability “Hospitality,” which lets Poltchageist "restore a small amount of its ally’s HP when it enters a battle.” For context, Scarlet & Violet have gone hard on mechanics specifically for doubles battles. Tatsugiri and Dondozo for example specifically work well together, with their potential massively undermined in singles. So only time will tell whether Poltchageist’s Hospitality will help solo players out or exist specifically for the competitive scene. I know I would like to see more double battles pop up in the main game.

We’ll be sure to learn more about Poltchageist when The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask launches on September 13.

The post The new Pokemon Poltchageist is a brutal cup of matcha tea appeared first on Destructoid.

During the August 8 Pokemon Presents events, there were a few noteworthy announcements and reveals. A new Pokemon animated series called Path to the Peak received some of the spotlight, and the first episode was released on August 11.

The series tells the tale of a girl named Ava who finds it difficult to fit in after moving to a new town. Although she gets off to a rocky start, she is quickly able to make friends through the shared hobby of playing Pokemon TCG. Although Path to the Peak isn't a must-watch kind of series, it is a great treat for fans.

[caption id="attachment_396512" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via The Pokemon Company.[/caption]

Ava and the Pokemon TCG Club

The social aspects of Pokemon are one of the reasons the franchise found monumental success. By allowing and encouraging players to trade creatures and compete, a vibrant global community has formed. This element of the franchise is reflected in Path to the Peak, though it is focused on card collecting.

Like most kids who find themselves in a new town, Ava struggles to fit in. In the first episode, we discover how she finds a strange Pikachu origami that leads her to a Pokemon TCG club. At first, she is quickly trounced, but after learning a few tips from her dead, she is able to come out victorious and become a member of the Pokemon club. It seems her greatest battle is still to come because the episode ends with her catching the attention of Celestine, the best player in the school.

The cartoon comes at just the right time, as it has been quite an eventful year for Pokemon TCG. This year, the Scarlet and Violet generation of Pokemon TCG kicked off, and the Obsidian Flames set was released on August 11. Fans can also look forward to the Pokemon 151 set that will celebrate the original Kanto creatures.

The post Pokémon: Path to the Peak (the TCG cartoon) Episode 1 is out appeared first on Destructoid.

Spread open your wallets, the Pokémon Center Store has unveiled a new 10 ¼ inch plush. This one depicts everyone’s favorite protrusion, Wiglett.

Numbered 960 on the National Pokédex, Wiglett was introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. While they resembled the shorter and more girthy Diglett, Wiglett is considered a different species rather than a regional variant. You can tell Wiglett apart by its much longer, slender length capped off by a red, nose-like tip.

The plush stands firmly at 10 ¼ inch length and 4 ¾ inches wide, which is quite a bit below average for your standard Wiglett. It’s held up by a large, sack-like base. Its long, pale shaft will no doubt delight company when you display it for all to see. The store page notes that its body is bendable, so it should stay rigid and erect as you pose it into different configurations. Meanwhile, its soft body invites you to take it into bed with you so you can spend all night together.

All in all, Wiglett is a perfect addition to anyone’s collection of Pocket Monsters. Judging by social media’s response, it is already being embraced by fans everywhere. It’s the perfect way to add some excitement to your evening.

The plush Wiglett is available now at the Pokémon Center shop for $24.99. Not for internal use.

The post Everyone’s favorite shaft-like Wiglett is getting the plush treatment appeared first on Destructoid.

While the recent August 2023 Pokemon Presents stream was a disappointment for some, Scarlet & Violet fans at least had a little bit to chew on. Amid the announcement that this generation's first expansion was just around the corner, we also got word that Mewtwo would be coming to the game in September via a Tera Raid event. That's neat at least!

Before that actually happens, you can do some extra prep work if you're not ready to go. The good news is that The Pokemon Company is making that easy with an event that's live right now through the next week or so: so even lapsed players can dive in without having to make up for weeks (or months) of lost time.

All the info on the August 9 through August 17 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Tera Raid event

From now through August 17, you'll be able to catch three Pokemon designed to counter Mewtwo. You can find all of the event info here on the official Japanese Pokemon site.

Here are the three Pokemon you can catch:

• Blissey
• Scizor
• Hydreigon

As you may have noticed from all the fanfare, all three of these will help you take out Mewtwo in some form as part of a larger party. You'll also get stat-raising items, as well as TMs that will help you conquer the psychic-wielding creature.

If you're on vacation or missed out, there's another event on the way

If you missed the first round of the event through August 17, you can still catch the second-chance one that runs from September 1 through September 17. Conveniently, that's when the Mewtwo event is running as well!

The post The next Pokemon Scarlet and Violet raid event is designed to help you take down Mewtwo appeared first on Destructoid.

During today's Pokemon Presents presentation, we saw Mewtwo announced as an upcoming Tera Raid encounter in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. However, another legendary Pokemon has made its appearance, and this one's much easier to get. Specifically, virtually anyone who owns either Pokemon Scarlet or Pokemon Violet can claim Mew as a mystery gift right now.

Until Monday, September 18, trainers can use the code GETY0URMEW in the Mystery Gift menu to instantly grab Mew. That's a zero and not an O in "Y0UR," since you can't input O, I, or Z in codes. For those who need a refresher, you can get to Mystery Gifts by selecting the Poke Portal option in the in-game main menu. Select "Mystery Gift" at the bottom of the menu that pops up, and then select "Get with Code/Password." If you input the code right, you should grab Mew right away.

[caption id="attachment_395454" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

That said, not all Mews are created equal. Mew's moves and Tera Type will differ between each player, so you may see some funky results. For example, my Mew has a Ground Tera Type and knows Earth Power, Swift, Light Screen, and Life Dew. A little random for my endgame focused file, but Earth Power would wreck house in the early game. Anyone who can access the Mystery Gift option during this period can claim Mew, including new players.

It always feels a little surreal to me whenever I see Mew given away like this. I mean, I know these legendary Pokemon distributions happen all the time these days. But after the schoolyard hysteria over getting Mew back in the Red & Blue era, I always expect to just get this monster with a glitch or a GameShark. I don't know how great Mew will fare against Mewtwo specifically, but my Life Dew Mew will help me on my quest to always use healers in Tera Raids.

The post Mew is now available as a Mystery Gift in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have had an interesting run of Tera Raid events. Until now, most of the 7-Star encounters have revolved around starters from previous games, usually with a strategically picked Tera Type that makes them tricky to take down. But now, with the impending release of DLC for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Mewtwo is here to kick the Tera Raid intensity up a notch.

From September 1 to September 17, Mewtwo will appear as a Tera Raid in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. It will sport the Psychic Tera Type, so needless to say, this thing's Psychic attacks will hit hard. Normally, I would say this means Dark-type Pokemon will prevail. But if there's one thing I know about Tera Raid Pokemon, it's that they love to punish their obvious weaknesses. Aura Sphere will almost certainly appear in Mewtwo's move pool.

To help trainers prepare, Scarlet & Violet will see promotional raids throughout August that drop some key items to strengthen your team. The first encounter will appear from August 9 to August 17, with the second encounter running from August 19 to August 31. We didn't receive specifics about these raids, but I'd expect something similar to a 5-Star Blissey raid. In other words, an easy loot piñata for trainers to take down in a minute before claiming rewards.

If you read my older Tera Raid guides, you could probably tell how exhausted I felt after a while. The release schedule just got so fast, and I can only use Annihilape so much before it gets stale. However, with legendary Pokemon entering the fray, I might dip into the scene again. This monster harassed me enough in Pokemon Stadium, so I've got a score to settle.

The post Challenge Mewtwo as a Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raid in September appeared first on Destructoid.

During the August 8 Pokemon Presents, The Pokemon Company announced two classic Pokemon titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online. First up is the Pokemon Trading Card Game which came out on Gameboy Color in 1998. The second is Pokemon Stadium 2 which hit N64 in 2000.

Both titles are coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service today, August 8. While it appears Pokemon TCG will be available on the base NSO service, Pokemon Stadium 2 requires the Expansion Pack.

While Pokemon TCG certainly isn't one of the traditional Pokemon games like Red, Blue, Yellow, etc., it's still fantastic. In fact, I remember playing it after those titles and thinking it was such a unique take on Pokemon. Instead of choosing a Pokemon at the start, players choose from one of three different TCG decks and begin their adventure to become the world's greatest TCG player. Similar to traditional games, you head out to defeat the eight Club Masters and earn their Medals, comparable to Badges.

Pokemon Stadium 2 is a sequel to the original which is actually the first time we saw Generation II Pokemon in full 3D. Back in 2000, the popular sequel was also the only Pokemon title to use the N64 Expansion Pak. In Pokemon Stadium 2, players focused more on Pokemon battles rather than catching them all.

Overall these are two great Pokemon titles being added to the service. Hopefully, this will also pave the way for the more traditional Pokemon GBC titles to come later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QiLe4pTHAE

The post Pokemon TCG and Pokemon Stadium 2 coming to Nintendo Switch Online appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokémon fans should mark their calendars, as a new Pokémon Presents event has been announced.  You can watch it on YouTube at 6 PM PDT on August 8. The presentation will be a full 35 minutes long, which gives plenty of opportunity for some big presentations and announcements.

Though there has yet to be any word on what fans can expect, some reasonable guesses can be made. It had been previously revealed that DLC titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is in the works for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It will be released in two parts, with part 1 The Teal Mask, scheduled for Fall. Part 2, titled The Indigo Disk, will hit stores in Winter.

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1687449174021660672

Pokémon Presents comes at the right time

With the release window creeping nearer, it is likely that the DLC will make an appearance in the upcoming Pokémon Presents event. Thus far, we know that The Teal Mask will take players to the Kitakami region as part of a school trip. Some new Pokémon have been showcased, including a trio consisting of a dog-like creature called Okidogi, a monkey-like critter called Munkidori, and a bird Pokemon called Fezandipiti.

There are a couple of spin-off titles that could also make an appearance. Detective Pikachu Returns is slated for an October 6 release. It will serve as the sequel to 2018's Detective Pikachu which spawned a film. Updates and announcements for Pokémon Unite and the recently released spin-off Pokémon Sleep could also pop up.

There is also plenty going on in the world of Pokémon TCG. The upcoming Obsidian Flames expansion could show up, though it is far more likely that the Pokémon 151 and Classic expansions will get the spotlight. These highly anticipated expansions return to Kanto to showcase the original 151 Pokémon.

Of course, there is every possibility that The Pokémon company could reveal something entirely unexpected. This could include a new remake or Nintendo Switch port, or new spin-off titles. We'll find out more on August 8.

The post A new Pokémon Presents is airing next week appeared first on Destructoid.

As we gear up for the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet double-DLC-drops this year, Game Freak and company are doling out more free gifts for the pair of recent mainline games. This time the newest promo involves a dark Tera Type Charizard: and who doesn't love a Charizard?! Especially given that you can't acquire one in Scarlet & Violet through normal gameplay.

Here's how to get the special July 2023 Charizard

We have a full breakdown on how to access the mystery gift system here. In short, it involves finishing up the tutorial (which requires you to get through the academy portion, after the bout with Arven) to fully unlock the required menu.

After you've completed the tutorial, complete the following steps:

• Press X and select “Poke Portal”
• On the Poke Portal screen, scroll down and find the code option and select it
• Enter the code DARKTERA0006

Here are some details for the July 2023 Charizard in case you need to discern whether or not it's worth even booting up the game for:

• Level 50
• Dark Tera Type
• Moves: Crunch, Flare Blitz, Acrobatics, Belly Drum

This promo will run through August 31, 2023, so you have some time. If you're seeking out more information, the original source of this code is straight from The Pokemon Company's site.

[Update: Nintendo has provided a new trailer for the event, which also ties into an "Obsidian Flames" trading card game product]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4-FOvO4ukY

The post Grab a special Charizard in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet for a limited time appeared first on Destructoid.

Um, can they not be exclusive?

The Pokemon World Championships are being held this year in Yokohama Japan, and The Pokemon Company has been hyping them up for weeks now. Naturally, there will be merch to buy there, and it looks like there are going to be four exclusive figures based on Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. You might recall seeing these food-fiend-themed figures earlier this year, and you'd be right! They were officially unveiled as part of the logo for the 2023 Championships.

Here's the full rundown from the tweet:

"If you're joining us in Yokohama this August, these 2023 World Championships figures featuring Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly will be available exclusively at the Pokémon Center Worlds Store! #PokemonWorlds"

Once again the World Championships will feature junior, senior, and masters event qualifiers, with the main event running in August (the date is still TBA).

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1681317925490130945

The Pokemon Company really nailed it with the Scarlet and Violet starters

Cards on the table, I'm not going to Yohokama in August! Maybe I'll be able to find these on the secondhand market. Either way, there's no shortage of Pokemon merch, especially when it comes to the adorable Scarlet & Violet trio (and of course, the perpetually-marketable Pikachu).

This past weekend I almost bought a giant Mew statue, so I'm definitely the target market. Plus, who can resist real-life gacha machines with food-based characters? No matter what you pull, you always win.

The post If you’re going to the 2023 Pokemon World Championships, you can snag these exclusive figures appeared first on Destructoid.

A hardboiled PokeDetective story

The mystery-solving, coffee-drinking Detective Pikachu is back on the case. Detective Pikachu Returns is set to arrive later this year on October 6, 2023.

Revealed at today's Nintendo Direct, Detective Pikachu Returns looks to be a follow-up to the original game. Not much is obvious about the plot or direction of the game, other than Tim and his partner returning to solve some mysteries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAFr2iTy2sg

We're set to learn more about these mysteries later on this year.

The post Detective Pikachu Returns in October for Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Get your Chesnaught while you can

Sometimes, glitches sway in the player's favor, especially when it comes to item duplication insanity. Other times, especially when it comes to Game Freak titles, it can be a little less exciting. That was definitely the case for the recent Chesnaught glitch, which canceled a 7-star raid event for the first time.

In case you missed it, the "second chance" event was scheduled to run from May 19 through May 21 (in conjunction with the Great Tusk and Iron Treads event). However, hard crashes caused the powers that be to cancel the raid and remove it from the game entirely, promising a new release date so folks wouldn't miss out on Chesnaught. That time has now come.

The new date and time for the second chance Chesnaught Pokemon raid

The Pokemon Company has announced that the 7-star Chesnaught raid will return on June 16 9AM JST through June 19 at 8:59AM JST.

It's great that they patched things up, but the amount of glitches and performance issues in these two generational entries is frankly astounding. While it's nice to sit here and assume that Game Freak will get more time to fine-tune the next entry, the Pokemon machine cannot be stopped. There's two DLC expansions on the way, despite the fact that there's more work to be done to smooth the base games out.

One day something will change. But until that day comes, safely assuming that Switch-based Pokemon games will have technical issues is kind a tradition at this point.

The post Remember that glitched Chesnaught Pokemon raid? It’s coming back soon appeared first on Destructoid.

No more technical fixes yet

Pokemon has been having...issues lately. Amid the last-second delay of Pokemon Home, and problems with recent raid events, another bug popped up that dealt with private tournaments. Well, the latter just got fixed, at least! This info comes from the official Japanese Pokemon account, which tweeted out the update details this week:

"Updated data (Ver.1.3.1) for 'Pokemon Scarlet Violet' has been distributed. Fixed an issue where unintended behavior occurred in private official tournaments where specific users were invited. We have sent an email to all contestants who were affected."

When will the big bug and performance patch come for Scarlet & Violet

As you can glean from the super small patch notes, this is a minor update that brings the game out of the 1.3.0 era and into 1.3.1. We're still waiting for that big performance patch, but let's face it: it may never come, or it might not be sufficient enough to warrant its existence.

In the world of Pokemon, you never quite know what you're going to get with any given release. It's the curse of Game Freak (combined with short production schedules), and it's impacted them ever since bringing the series off of pure handhelds and into the console era of Pokemon.

The post A small Pokémon Scarlet & Violet patch fixed a tournament bug appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon Go reverse these changes and admit defeat

In case you missed it, Niantic made another decision that's been unpopular with the Pokemon Go community, which has been a trend since the game came into being. The team is up-charging for remote raids, and will limit the amount of times you can partake in them. It's one of a series of reversals that gave folks hope that Pokemon Go would improve before a core feature was rug-pulled.

That was weeks ago. Speaking to Dot Esports, several team members have finally responded to the backlash. Michael Steranka, Pokemon Go director, started off by saying that they've "taken note" of the backlash and that it's "hard to ignore." Steranka is personally tagged in some of these tweets, and like Destiny developer Bungie often says before they immediately announce that they're not reversing a bad decision, they are "reading everything."

As for the heart of the matter, Steranka has this to say:

"That was like a very, very painful decision to make even for me. But when we look at sort of the overall health of the game, and the type of behaviors that remote raid passes were introducing, it just really didn’t align with the kind of experience we were trying to create"

John Funtanilla, Pokemon Go senior producer, "echoed" the sentiments, stating: "There’s a lot of Michael [Steranka]s on this team, everyone’s playing the game, everyone, you know, like, wants to do remote raids, but we kind of have to understand, what we feel is best for the player experience."

So that's it, then I guess! No surprise there.

This isn't the first time Pokemon Go has been in the hotseat

I've had issues with the way Pokemon Go has been maintained for many years, and this sort of hardline stance on rug-pulling a previously-useful feature is not new. The company has also been struggling with juggling multiple projects, pumping out AR games like Telltale cranked out episodic adventures before their downfall. The company keeps chasing Pokemon Go by cloning it with limited success, all while making their marquee product worse.

It's a bold strategy, let's see if it pays off!

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