New reports this week suggest that Nintendo may be releasing more than just one new Pokemon Switch game in the next 12 months.
We already know that a new core release is being planned for the handheld console, but it appears evidence is mounting of something else.
Nintendo insider Emily Rogers posted new details on her blog, revealing that the Pokemon game arriving in 2018 could be different to what we expected.
The blog reads: “As we wait for an announcement on the upcoming Pokémon title, which will be revealed before the end of this month, think about what Pokemon Go might mean for the future of the Pokémon series.
“I suspect that the naming/branding for this year’s Pokémon Switch title (there’s two versions) might raise a few eyebrows.”
This has been followed by other rumours that suggest this year’s Pokemon game will be a remaster of Pokemon Yellow, which is yet to seen an official remake.
The online report states that two versions will be released; Pokémon Let’s Go! Eevee Edition and Pokémon Let’s Go! Pikachu Edition.
It also claims that the game will have new online elements, as well as a form of integration with Pokemon Go.
The details shared are thin, but hint that the way you catch Pokemon will be closer to the Mobile Go game made by Niantic.
Another big update comes in the form of new domain trademarks being registered by CSC Corporate Domains, a company used in the past to acquire URLs.
Other things have also been noticed that seem to point to both Eevee and Pikachu games, although still nothing official.
The corporate website for the Pokemon Company is said to have featured the two Pocket Monsters this month, although both appear to have been removed recently.
Both Pikachu and Eevee were given their own Soda Pop Line in 2018, another fact that fans think might be connected to the recent rumours.
However, while these reports will prove very interesting reading to fans before E3 2018, it should be noted that none of it comes directly from Nintendo.
There’s a chance that some of this information is correct, but doesn’t provide the full picture.
Whatever happens, it seems likely we’ll hear more during E3 2018.
Fans had been hoping that the core Pokemon RPG talked about by Nintendo last year would be shown at the expo.
It’s hard to tell if the new Let’s Go games that have been reported is the RPG in question, or whether something else is being planned by Nintendo for a later date.
It follows Nintendo making a major announcement during a recent earnings call.
In a surprising move, the company has appointed 46-year-old Shuntaro Furukawa as its new president.
He takes over from outgoing president Tatsumi Kimishima, who took charge following the unfortunate passing of Satoru Iwata in 2015.
Furukawa served on the board of The Pokemon Company, which bodes well for the upcoming Switch release.
While Super Smash Bros and Pokemon Switch didn’t feature heavily during the earnings call, Nintendo did have some news to share.
In a list of new and upcoming releases, Super Smash Bros has a 2018 release date, while Pokemon Switch has a 2018 or later launch date attached.
