The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 is great news for all fans of Nintendo games, but could be most welcome among the Pokemon community. One of the most exciting parts of the Switch 2 is the rumored hardware it packs that would elevate its performance capabilities far beyond its predecessor. As such, it's likely that future games for the console will look and run significantly better than games on the original Switch, making one highly-requested feature for Pokemon Gen 10 within arm's reach.
Ever since Pokemon Gold and Silver kicked off Gen 2, fans have been hoping to see another game that features two full regions of gyms for players to take on. With Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paldea Region geographically near Kalos, many anticipated that Gen 9 could be the games that finally repeated this feature. However, the controversial technical performance of the Gen 9 games dashed many of those hopes, with it clear that the Switch was struggling to handle the games' open-world formula, but a more powerful Switch 2 could correct these issues for Gen 10 and put a two-region game back on the table.
The Switch 2 Offers Pokemon Gen 10 an Opportunity to Break a Huge Tradition
With Pokemon's next generation likely set to line up with the Nintendo Switch 2's upcoming arrival, there's the chance to subvert a franchise trope.
The More Powerful Nintendo Switch 2 Could Allow Pokemon Gen 10 to Feature Two Full Regions Once Again
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Came Close to Repeating Gen 2's Multi-Region Feat
Despite some technical setbacks, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet took the series leaps and bounds ahead of past entries with its fully open-world formula. With players being allowed to travel around the Paldea Region at their hearts' desire, it was an intriguing prospect to potentially add the Kalos Region as a second location players could explore via DLC. While the DLC did take players to the new locations of Kitakami and Blueberry Academy, these locations didn't offer the same gym challenge offered in the base game.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A may fulfill some of that wish to return to the Kalos Region in a Gen 9 game, but the opportunity to explore two full regions and complete a total of 16 gyms like Gen 2 offered, has still yet to be replicated outside the Gen 2 remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver. The DLC's inclusion of limited regions like Kitakami and Blueberry Academy shows how close Gen 9 was to fulfilling the fan request for another two-region Pokemon game. However, it's clear that the technical limitations of the Switch held back Scarlet and Violet from featuring the entirety of a second region, with the two DLC locations being as close as the series could get to this feat on the Switch given the taxing open world nature of the game.
The Switch 2 Could Be the Missing Piece of This Highly-Requested Feature
With the Switch 2 being rumored to be as powerful as the PS4, creating a large open world that can still run smoothly seems a lot more likely for Gen 10 than it was on the previous console. By proxy, this makes a second complete region more likely than ever for Pokemon Gen 10, even if it still comes in the form of DLC. Going in this direction could extend the life of Pokemon Gen 10 far beyond that of past games since a full second region would essentially feel like another game, rather than simply DLC.
Depending on where the Gen 10 games take place, it could be natural to include a previously established region as a second region for players to journey through. Another Pokemon game set in a region based on Japan lends itself naturally to a return to someplace like the Hoenn Region, while the rumors of a region based on Italy would allow regions like Paldea or Kalos to fit into the Gen 10 games as a second visitable region. Regardless of where Pokemon Gen 10 is set, adding a second full region to the game to take advantage of a more powerful console would be a great way to make good on the long-request feature for a major franchise milestone.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 48%
- Released
- November 18, 2022
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you play Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet hosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is "A Treasure Hunt." Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!
Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.
These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
