The Pokémon Diamond And Pearl Remakes Might Require A Launch Update "To Play Some Content"

I'm guessing it's just the online content.

Par for the course, unfortunately.

People were obviously not paying attention during the presentation, because there was a footnote during the footage for BD/SP stating that a software update would be required for some features (something to that effect anyway).

Ideally, this remake should be done and dusted at Version 1.0 (ah, like the originals), but the luxury of patching at a moment's notice has made publishers frustratingly comfortable.

@Silly_G I dunno if I'd call Diamond and Pearl done and dusted at launch given how the Gen 4 game engine made getting out of bounds and crashing hilariously easy, the games crash if you cycle too fast between specific areas, the engine couldnt run at a decent speed until HG/SS, it had to completely rewrite save data whenever the PC was accessed until Gen 5, it had the ability to misalign battle sprites with a single move by one pixel per use.

Oh and the official censor system in the game stopped you trading Pokemon like Nosepass unless you nicknamed them. And they then repeated this mistake in Gen 5.

It wasnt a total broken mess like RBY was, but Diamond and Pearl certainly didnt spend all the time in the oven they needed to.

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I still keep getting the physical as always, but at the same time to see future games treatment like that it made me even more interested to hunt the old games from Wii and Gamecube era. All contents in disc.

I highly doubt that it would be offline content, since they're probably gonna be able to fit all on one cart. Most games online features are restricted behind needing to update to access it so playing it offline should be no problem

@Haruki_NLI : I know they weren't perfect, but it's quite common for publishers to now rush unfinished garbage to shelves rather than keeping games "in the oven" for a more acceptable amount of time than they used to. Version 1.0 should at least be playable to the end without requiring a patch.

@Fighting_Game_Loser : This isn't an issue of storage space. Nintendo typically includes the most up-to-date version on subsequent pressings, while us suckers who buy on day one are stuck with Version 1.0 on the cartridge (for better and for worse ).

Thanks devs for letting us we'll need to update the game upon release... on a game that is still three months away from release.

@Silly_G Oh, really? I didn't know that! So does that mean there's versions of Kirby Star Allies, Arms, and Mario Tennis Aces? (And other Nintendo games that got updates)

Anyone know if is it a traditional Pokémon or a Let's Go style? Thanks!

@RCGamer It's a traditional game.

@KingMike It's most likely already "golden" and ready to be shipped to stores. Logistics aren't easy Espesically for titles as big as Pokémon.

@Fighting_Game_Loser : Yes. There is evidence from fans to corroborate this.

Like I said though, I buy most of my games on day one, but my copy of Ring Fit Adventure had a more recent version on the cartridge as I didn’t buy from among the first print (which sold out quickly), but that’s my only updated Nintendo cart, and current pressings would contain an even more up-to-date version than that.

Third parties typically don’t update their cartridges though unless it’s a re-release of some kind (like a deluxe edition).

I wonder what kind of offline part would require an update in the first place.

@Silly_G Yeah it's unfortunate that third-parties don't update their carts, especially if they don't give the game a physical release itself. And the more I think about it, I might have one of those carts. When I bought my copy of Kirby Star Allies, I remember booting it up on the way home and the first update already being there and being confused why the animal friends, Marx, and Gooey were there. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the prospect honestly lol. But my bigger question is, how do you tell which carts have which versions of games? Is there a serial code on the cart that indicates which version it is?

I’m getting the double pack physically. I’m thinking it’s online stuff that needs the update. I’m a little upset that there might not be a Giratina episode like they did for Rayquaza in OR/AS.

@Silly_G You don't know that it isn't playable to the end. "Some content" could just be online trades/battles.

@Fighting_Game_Loser : If it's not on the cart, then it would definitely be reflected on the packaging (assuming that the integrity of the case/packaging hasn't been compromised, because many retailers remove discs/cartridges from the cases and keep them behind the counter, so, you could potentially wind up with an old version in the newer packaging).

Sucks but I guess it's another thing for people to complain about. It might also just be a preventive measure for folks who breaks street dates. Who knows.

Probably for online things. MHS2 did hint something like this on the box but I played a huge chunk of it without updating. Hopefully the same with these games.

No guarantee that there won't be more additions, but I'm willing to bet this is at least for the Pokemon Home updates since they mentioned support coming for it later. Then again, I don't know it Legends had a similar disclaimer, but I'd expect that game to need some later patches more than the remakes.