Bolt_Strike

Typical don't care about Partner Showcases, but this one has a lot of intrigue because we have a new console that hasn't had a lot of third party announcements yet. Hoping to see Baldur's Gate 3, Yooka-Replaylee, and Genshin Impact.

Where's the option for none of these? What an underwhelming Presents. 5 months since the last one, 3 months to release, and announced over a month ago, and all they could muster up to show us for Z-A is 1 new Mega and a few storyline tidbits? WTF are you doing Game Freak? I'm very concerned about Z-A now. It's looking like such a nothingburger game that's going to feel like $60+ DLC of SV rather than a full game. Only spans one city instead of the full region, map only looks as big as Kitakami or the Terrarium, minimal content and side modes so far, almost no new Pokemon/forms so far, they spent 2 or 3 years on THIS?

So based on those comparisons, it sounds like a reasonable sales projection would be about 15 million. That would be pretty respectable and would make it the best selling DK game of all time (not counting the arcade games where he was the antagonist, which shouldn't really be counted anyway). Hope it can keep that kind of momentum, the game deserves it.

@DollyrotsFan1 I mean we may see more remakes/Legends games, but the timing isn't right for one in 2026. It's the 30th anniversary, it's a new console generation, and it'll have been 4 years since SV. That's exactly the time to bring out the big guns and release your next flagship mainline entry, not a filler title like a remake.

@shoeses Is it really Nintendo? I have a hard time believing that when Nintendo champions delaying a game until it's polished. I think it's more likely TPC, and especially the Creatures branch of TPC, that is pressuring them to have yearly releases. They're much more merchandising focused (although they have developed the 3D models, but they're also responsible for the TCG and toys), so they're probably encouraging Game Freak to rush games out so they can put out more merch junk to sell. That would make more sense, Nintendo rushing Game Freak would be very uncharacteristic of them.

@ChopperDX The difference between this and the BDSP/LA situation is that BDSP/LA were two different flavors of Sinnoh revisits, one that was more traditional and faithful and one that was more modernized and ambitious. Having them close together as two different options made sense. With Z-A and Gen 10, there's not going to be that same kind of dynamic. They aren't similar types of games with conflicting directions, Z-A is going to be new, but Gen 10 is going to be far newer and more ambitious. Nothing can really compete with having a completely new region, a large number of new Pokemon, new characters, a new story, etc. That's why new generations sell the most out of any type of game. Plus it's probably going to be Switch 2 exclusive, which means it's going to be more next gen feeling which adds to the marketing. Gen 10 is going to overshadow everything, they're not going to want to begin marketing it until Z-A is out of the way.

And no, LA is a main series game. It's made by Game Freak and it has the same catching and battling gameplay, that's not enough for it to be a spinoff. At best you could call it a side series in the same way that the sandbox Mario games or Metroid Prime are, but they're still main series games.

Do we know that it's going to be in the holiday for sure? No. But they almost always have something for the holiday and that's what they're going to target. Meanwhile they have never released a game on the anniversary (aside from of course, the very first one). So far more likely that it's going to be announced, not release, on the anniversary while releasing for the holiday. It's not 50:50 in the slightest, the scenario you're describing is one that's unprecedented for Pokemon.

You keep pointing to the "oh it's been 3 years" which has been a pattern for quite a while, but if they were going to stick to that we'd already have Gen 10 announced by now. Z-A is hitting that 3 year mark and that's a fact. What you aren't considering is that the lack of a Gen 10 announcement at the 3 year mark could mean something else, it likely means that they think the 3 year cycle may not be necessary and/or feasible anymore. Game development is getting longer and more complicated, and Game Freak now has to deal with far more intensive hardware than they used to with advancements such as 3D graphics, HD resolution, and larger, more open game worlds (all of which have been cited by multiple developers over time as being intensive to develop and needing extra time), and we saw what happened with SV when they tried to make a modern feeling Pokemon game in just 3 years, people thought it was a buggy, unpolished mess. It sounds like they're listening to that feedback and now taking 4 years to make Gen 10 (honestly I'm of the opinion that after Gen 10 they should extend it to 5 and just release the new gens on the anniversary years while finding more smaller projects to fill the gaps, but we'll see what they do for Gen 11 and on).

@ChopperDX You're not getting it. Even an announcement of Gen 10 would cut into Z-A's sales, so that would be shooting themselves in the foot. They're not concerned with the game releasing on the anniversary. Pokemon is Pokemon, it sells regardless of when it releases. Heck, Legends Arceus released in freaking JANUARY, arguably the absolute worst month in the year to release a video game, and it still sold gangbusters. And with complaints about SV being too rushed/unpolished they are not going to want to be in a hurry to release this one a mere 4 months after Z-A, they're going to want to take their time. Your timeline is not happening, full stop. That would be a massive scheduling/marketing blunder on their part if they did that.

There are other things they can release on the anniversary. They could repeat what they did in 2016 for the 20th for example and finally give us main series games on NSO. They could come up with some other smaller title to celebrate the anniversary. There is no need for Gen 10 to release on the anniversary. You're just asking for a Sonic 06 moment.

@ChopperDX Don't expect them to say a word about Gen 10 in this Presents. They're not going to reveal a new game when they're still trying to market Z-A. If you're waiting for Gen 10, mark your calendar for Pokemon Day (February 27, 2026), that's when we're likely going to see the Gen 10 announcement.

New Megas for Z-A though, that's a much more reasonable prediction for this particular Presents. They have to be hiding some kind of new Pokemon, forms, variants, etc. and since Megas are back, they can introduce more of those to satisfy the need for new forms.

I'll believe it when Nintendo announces it. The Pokemon Presents and the various shadowdrop announcements leads me to believe that there isn't a full fat Direct coming anytime soon. I suspect we're waiting until September.

@Cyrax77 No, games. Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition is also $80.

@Bunkerneath And $80 games.

Yes we know Sony. What we want to know is where are the games? Most garbage lineup for a Sony console ever.

@whodatninja I mean, we're absolutely getting Splatoon 4 at some point in the Switch 2's lifespan, it's pretty much inevitable. Splatoon is way too popular to not do it. But this is likely a sign that it's not happening for a few years. This is clearly a game they're using to get Splatoon fans on board with the Switch 2 early, tide fans over until 4, and expand the IP's fanbase. It's not a replacement for anything.

@Nintoz Given the lack of a release date and it being a vague teaser I'm feeling like this isn't coming out this year. Maybe it'll be 2026.

Oh man, this is pretty much exactly what I wanted out of a Splatoon spinoff. I've been losing interest in the main series because the multiplayer is getting too repetitive and rehashy, but this is exactly the kind of game I'd want to stay engaged with the IP. Can't wait to see more.

At least it's not Rachel Zegler.

@TheBigK This. The spawn radius was a bit of an annoying limitation and slowed down my shiny hunting a bit, this is still an improvement.

@N00BiSH Ehh, it really doesn't seem that complicated. And dual screens have been one of Nintendo's most successful and used gimmicks. We definitely lost something getting rid of them.

@N00BiSH Simple answer to that. Take the current screen and split it in two and make them detachable. Then you can get DS/3DS style handheld mode, Wii U style docked mode, and in local multiplayer each person gets a screen in addition to a Joycon.

@N00BiSH I'd rather have dual screens back than this TBH.

@N00BiSH Except dual screens apparently.

This is actually pretty surprising since sequels on the same console tend to sell worse. I guess people really do like the open world. I myself did have a lot of fun with the game, despite the performance issues it's a good foundation for future Pokemon games.

It was a complete mess going back and forth between different retailers like a game of Whack-a-Mole, and I was close to going to bed and going to Gamestop in the morning, but I managed to snag one at Walmart after about 2 hours.

@J_C Just got mine in at Walmart! Thanks for the tip.

@tobsesta99 As much as I despise capitalism, there'd be no getting around this in any economic system.

It's officially sold out at Target, don't bother with that.

@jon128 Yeah, this is the only message I've been getting from Walmart, I've been "in line" for a while and still not getting anywhere.

Yeah I think they're gone now. Walmart kicked me out of line now and I never got a chance to order (and attempting to reorder sends me in an endless loop), and Target lets you get to checkout and says "Something went wrong". Gamestop and Best Buy just said "Coming soon" even a millisecond after refreshing the page. Going to have to try my luck with Gamestop in store tomorrow. If I can't get that, I'm screwed.

Did anyone in the U.S. manage to get a preorder through? They were all gone like, the millisecond after midnight with the exception of Walmart who has me "in line" for an indeterminate amount of time (who knows if there's even any stock left or they're just jerking me around with this). I think scalper bots snapped up all of the online stock, might have to go into my Gamestop tomorrow. Luckily it's in a rural area and I don't think there's a line forming yet, but this has not gone well so far.

Not at all. It's decent but it's not quite the same level as the Switch.

More likely they can't afford to jump to Switch 2.

Is there a Switch 2 Edition upgrade for those that bought the Switch 1 version? That's all I want to know.

@N00BiSH Same. I always thought DK lacked a gameplay identity and felt too close to Mario, the Country games feel like a 2D Mario with heavier physics and a jungle coat of paint, and DK64 is kind of just Mario 64: DK Edition. And I did think leaning into DK's brutish strength was a good way to differentiate himself from Mario. And we're getting that here. I could almost feel like I could drop Mario into other DK games and he wouldn't feel too out of place, but I DEFINITELY cannot say that for this one. Does Mario look like someone that can rip entire chunks out of the level and throw them around? Hell no. Some of these exact mechanics aren't quite what I envisioned in a good way, but a game like this is exactly the kind of game I think DK needs to make a resurgence.

I'd be interested in a Switch 2 Edition of Sonic x Shadow Generations, I assumed it would be a Switch 2 game but the Switch 2 didn't release soon enough for that to happen so I just bought a Switch 1 version.

You don't have the new poll up for this, you just recycled the one from the Switch 1 Direct.

Anyway, solid 9/10. It does just about everything it needed to do and what it didn't do is excusable given the circumstances. My biggest gripe is no 3D Mario (did it get internally delayed AGAIN?), but Mario Kart being open world and open world DK is a good enough substitute for now. The price is a bit more than I'd like, and I think they may be nickel and diming us with Switch 2 Editions, but given the economic conditions I don't really blame them (I blame the orange turd for that one). But there seems to be enough to start off with that it's close to 2017 levels (not quite there, but close enough).

Now this was a surprise. I was fully expecting 3D Mario to be the closer (did it get internally delayed AGAIN?), but 3D DK is fine too. Really has vibes of those mining games on mobile, but as a AAA open world game. Should be interesting.

Treehouse is back! Oh yes! I loved Treehouse, it really gave you a better feel for the games and revealed some tidbits that the trailers didn't quite cover well enough. I missed it so much. Glad to hear they're going all out and making this an E3 throwback of sorts. That's exactly the kind of energy this event needs.

Let's see this infographic again after next week. Not much of interest here for the Switch 1.

Also also, there NEEDS to be a Switch 2 version of this. This HAS to have mouse support, the new psychic abilities feel like they're absolutely designed around the Switch 2's mouse mode.

I mean, the psychic powers are kind of neat, but overall an unexciting showcase here. I hope they have more hidden.

Also y u no release date?

I expected nothing and was still disappointed. Practically a Partner Showcase, that's how bad it was.

If this isn't cross gen we riot. Those psychic abilities look like they were freaking MADE for the mouse mode.

@batmanbud2 Do they? The only one I really like from this bunch is A Trip to Alivel Mall, most of my favorites aren't here. I'm waiting on Through the Tunnel, Faded Dream of a Psychomeddler, and Scattered Souls Across Isolated Isles.

@Bigmanfan Of course he's going to deny it, he's not going to admit to that. You can't take his denial at his word.

As far as the supporting evidence, he showed AI generated monster designs as far back as 2021.

https://x.com/urokuta_ja/status/1470995753627951104

It was a few months after Palworld's announcement, but close enough to be believable that he used the same process for the official designs. His comments on supporting AI, this tweet showing he's done AI-generated Pokemon, and the official designs including elements of Pokemon should be enough evidence for a copyright infringement claim.

@Bigmanfan The CEO blatantly admitted to supporting AI and the designs have distinctive features from Pokemon. Easy to connect the dots here.

No plagiarism on my Nintendo console please. If you're going to ripoff Pokemon, at least use some original freaking monster designs instead of lazy AI amalgamations.

@Eel The Lite is not a hybrid though. I want a hybrid that can fully realize the idea of being a home console and a handheld. No Switch model currently does.

@MrGawain Not really. The problem they're trying to solve with foldable screens is having a larger screen that can also fit in your pocket. A Switch can't fit in your pocket, and that limits its appeal as a handheld, a foldable screen like this one would solve that. The design they chose for this is hot garbage, but the concept of foldable screens is most certainly not a solution looking for a problem.

Let's see the full hardware and the games first before we get too ahead of ourselves.

@Munchlax No, Patrat was in the Kalos Dex. Although you couldn't catch it directly, it was only obtainable by breeding in XY, so that might be why you don't remember it. You could catch Watchog on Rt. 15 (the autumny route in between Laverre and Dendemille). The starters are actually the only Pokemon we've seen so far that weren't in the original Kalos Dex.