For this year’s Pokémon Day, which marks the release date of Pokemon Red and Green in Japan, fans have been treated to a new Pokémon Presents featuring all kinds of updates and announcements about the franchise.
With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet released so recently, speculation has been rife about what treats could be in store for fans. The time for speculation is over, though, as we have the scoop on all the news from the event right here.
Turn up the Pokémon Music
First, the Pokémon Company shadow-dropped the Pokémon Game Sound Library for 2023. This site allows music from the games to be downloaded and used for free for personal use. Currently, there are 45 tracks available from the first generation of games, along with the brass band music scores for the main theme of Scarlet and Violet. Unfortunately, the site is currently region locked to Japan and the rest of Asia and is only live for a limited time.
The Pokémon World Championships will be held in Japan for the first time in 2023. Trainers will be battling it out from August 11-13, and matches will be played in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and Pokémon Go. The key art for the event was also revealed. Also announced was the Pokémon TCG game Classic, designed to be a premium experience to last a lifetime. The set will be previewed at the World Championships in August. Find out more here.
Another New Pokémon Series Is Coming to Netflix
Pokémon and Netflix have teamed up to create a new series called Pokémon Concierge. With an entirely new story, Pokémon Concierge is a stop-motion animation show set in a Pokémon Resort and following the adventures of a Pokémon Concierge. The preview footage is adorable and features a baffled stop-motion Psyduck on a beach. The clip is short, but it looks fantastic, and stop-motion is a perfect medium for the aesthetics of Pokémon. No release date yet, but expect the new series to release sooner rather than later.
Pokémon Game Updates
Now it’s time for the numerous game updates, and the first up is Pokémon Unite.
The five-on-five strategic battle game has entered its second year of service and will receive some updates to mark the occasion. Legendary Pokémon Zacian from Pokémon Sword has been added to the game along with the Adventure in Zacian’s Weald event. Its Unite move is Sovereign Sword, and it will also have a fancy outfit available for holowear. The event features unique rewards, and Zacian’s Unite license is available. Also available is a code for a special in-game item. In addition, players can use the code POKEMONDAY to receive a Gold Zacian boost emblem.
Pokémon Café Remix finally sees the addition of the Paldea starters Fuecoco, Sprigatito, and Quaxly, along with a new Paldean dish to cook up. Players will also have the opportunity to choose one of the Paldean starters to join their restaurant. Also available is an in-game Great Chef outfit for Greninja which can be obtained until March 17 simply by logging in. Deliveries have also been expanded to past 5-star chefs for a limited time, and until March 17, you can get 11x delivery speed without using in-game currency.
Pokémon Masters Ex celebrates three and a half years by adding a special limited-time rally. The 5 Star Champion Select Ticket Scout event runs from February 27 until April 3. Also appearing are the neo champions from Galar, including Hop and Zapdos, from March 2 until April 9. Check out the Pokémon Masters Ex website for a complete list of available champions
After being announced several years ago, Pokémon Sleep will finally be released this year. Professor Neroli is the Pokémon Sleep Researcher on a small island adventure where a sleeping Snorlax lazes the day away. Activating the app before you go to sleep measures the type of sleep you have that night and places you in one of three categories: Dozing, Snoozing, and Slumbering. Pokémon with your sleep style will gather around Snorlax while you sleep, allowing you to discover different sleep styles for each Pokémon.
Pokémon Go Plus + is a Pokeball-shaped device for Pokémon Sleep and Pokémon Go. The device also features a Pikachu “living within it” that will sing lullabies to you, grow friendlier and unlock more alarm sounds. As for Pokémon Go, you can use it to interact with Pokestops and catch pocket monsters on the go. Further integration with Pokémon Go and Pokémon Sleep is also planned. The Pokémon Go Plus + will be available on July 14.
New DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
To round up the presentation, news about updates and expected DLC for Scarlet and Violet has been revealed. First, two new Paradox Pokémon are coming to Paldea, Walking Wake, the Paradox version of Suicune, comes to Scarlet, while Iron Leaves, the Paradox version of Virizion, comes to Violet. Both of these new Pokémon will be obtainable through Tera Raids.
Also announced were the impending connectivity capabilities between Pokémon Go and Scarlet and Violet. Once available, players can send postcards from Pokémon Go to their games for the chance to encounter different Vivillon. In addition, sending postcards will also allow players to encounter Roaming Form Gimmighoul in Pokémon Go, where the same evolution mechanic will apply: collect 999 Gimmighoul coins to evolve Gholdengo.
Finally, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part One, The Teal Mask, and Part 2, The Indigo Disk, are scheduled for release in the Fall and Winter of 2023, respectively. Part one sees players visiting the land of Kitatami as part of a school trip, while part 2 sees players studying as exchange students from Blueberry Academy.
The DLC will feature Pokémon from previous generations appearing that have been previously unobtainable in the games as well as two new Legendary Pokémon, Ogrepon, who dons a fearsome mask, and Terapogos, a glittery shelled tortoise-like monster.
That’s all from this Pokémon Day Pokémon Presents event. What are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.
