The Pokemon Franchise's Development Cycle Explained

Summary

Pokemon fans can expect a new mainline game every 3-5 years, with DLC or third versions usually arriving 1-2 years after the main release.
Remakes follow the order of mainline games, with the next expected remake being for Black and White, which will likely come around 2027 - assuming the mainline release pattern holds true.
Non-mainline titles like Pokemon Legends: Z-A offer a refreshing twist to prevent franchise staleness, though their releases are impossible to predict.

When it comes to video game franchises, few are bigger than Pokemon. Each release has gamers coming out in droves to buy copies by the millions. Luckily for fans, there is seldom a long time to wait before a new game is released.

Pokemon's development cycle is pretty consistent, though there are a few deviations over the years. Thanks to this, it's possible to make predictions about when the next mainline game will be released. Fans are also able to speculate on which remake is coming next as well if they look closely at series patterns.

Pokemon Mainline Games Development Cycle

Every couple of years, a new core Pokemon game comes along, with a clear pattern emerging if players look at the timeline of the Western releases specifically.

Red and Blue - 1998
Yellow - 1999
Gold and Silver - 2000
Crystal - 2001
Ruby and Sapphire - 2003
Emerald - 2005
Diamond and Pearl - 2007
Platinum - 2009
Black and White - 2011
Black and White 2 - 2012
X and Y - 2013

It should be noted that there is a change in release schedules at this point. Typically, there are two versions of a game released followed by a definitive third version shortly after. That was not the case with Pokemon X and Y.

Sun and Moon - 2016
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon - 2017
Sword and Shield - 2019

Instead of a third version, Sword and Shield received two expansions. The same is true for Scarlet and Violet.

The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra - 2020
Scarlet and Violet - 2022
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero - 2023

What Pattern Emerges From the Pokemon Release Timeline?

From this release schedule, it becomes clear that fans can expect a new mainline Pokemon game every 3 to 5 years. When it comes to the third version (or DLC) of these games, the wait is usually 1 to 2 years long.

Pokemon Remake Development Cycle

Similarly, one can spot a pattern when analyzing the release schedule of the remakes.

FireRed and LeafGreen - 2004
HeartGold and SoulSilver - 2010
OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire - 2014
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - 2021

In this case, the games aren't released every set number of years. Instead, the remakes follow the order of the mainline games. Hence, the next remake to expect is for Black and White.

What About Games That Aren't Mainline?

There are other titles such as Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee as well as Pokemon Legends: Arceus that are technically mainline, but don't follow the typical Pokemon formula. It is impossible to predict when these will hit shelves, although sometimes it will coincide with the release of a new Nintendo console.

The next game to look out for is Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and it is slated for a 2025 release. It is a title full of mystery, as it appears that it will fill in many of the questions Pokemon X and Y left behind. The title also suggests it will capture the gameplay of Legends: Arceus. Hugely different games like this being released is good news, as it'll ensure the franchise never gets stale despte its constant releases.

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