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With no news on the next mainline Pokémon game and the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 happening this year, it has raised some concerns about what to expect when Gen 10 is announced. While Pokémon Legends Z-A has already been confirmed to be launching a Switch and Switch 2-compatible version, it may be the last in the franchise to do so.
Considering that Pokémon Legends Z-A is coming only a few short months following the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, it only made sense that the game would be compatible with both systems. With limited stock and several people hoping for a potential deal when the holidays roll around, Legends Z-A would’ve alienated a lot of players if offered only as a Switch 2 exclusive, the same issue Gen 10 may face.
Pokémon Gen 10 Games Rumored To Be Switch 2 Exclusives
Releasing At Least A Year After The Switch 2’s Release, Being Exclusive Would Make Sense
While there’s still no official word on whether Gen 10 will be a Switch 2 exclusive, since we’re likely looking at a 2026 release or later, there’s a good chance this will be the case. Come 2026, the Switch 2 will be a year old, and any new major releases are going to be less likely to provide Switch-compatible versions of their game. This is especially problematic when you consider all the concerns players already had about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on the original Switch.
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Although this isn’t necessarily a negative in the sense that it may mean a mainline Pokémon game that improves upon some of the graphical and performance aspects people had issues with in Gen 9, it also means less accessibility. Not everyone will be looking to, if they’re even able to, upgrade their Switch right away, especially those with the newer OLED models. For this reason, an exclusive Switch 2 version would mean a large portion of players would be barred from playing.
Switch 2 Sales (& Scarcity) Could Hurt Pokémon’s New Games
Even In 2026, A Switch 2 Might Be Hard To Get Your Hands On
Another major thing to consider at this point is that Switch 2 pre-orders have already gone live and sold out at every available retailer, raising the overall concern of scarcity. While there’s no guarantee that the availability of the Switch 2 will remain limited following its formal release, there’s also no guarantee it won’t. One year after the PS5’s launch, many, including myself, were still closely following social media, waiting for any mention of PS5 drops, all of which were still selling out within minutes.
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If the Switch 2 sees the same kind of limited availability that the PS5 did a year later, then whether players are willing to spend money on the upgrade or not won’t matter. Being unable to find a retailer to sell them one or fighting for a chance to get one will result in people giving up altogether, and thus, they will lose the opportunity to play Gen 10 at launch. Perhaps the only way to ensure this wouldn’t happen, if it were an exclusive, would be to hold the Gen 10 launch until Switch 2 availability was widespread.
Pokémon Gen 10 Would Have A Wider Audience On Switch & Switch 2
If Coming Soon, Dual Compatibility Is The Best Move For Gen 10
Since holding Gen 10 until the Switch 2 is readily available for anyone could mean delaying release until possibly 2027, this isn’t going to be ideal for anyone involved. Therefore, while the Switch 2 would be a year old at that point, if Gen 10 does release in 2026, the best move would be to offer two versions the same way that Pokémon Legends Z-A is doing. This way, those who have the Switch 2 would be able to take advantage of an enhanced version of the game while those who don’t would still be able to play.
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Even if it means the Switch version runs similarly to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, having the option to play it at all is something many players will still want to take advantage of. That being said, it also begs the question of how cost would come into play. The best approach would be to offer a flat rate for the game with an add-on cost for the enhanced Switch 2 version, but if they opt to charge the Switch 2 price across the board, this could also cause a stir among the community. Regardless of how they approach it, providing options and avoiding exclusivity is the best thing Pokémon Gen 10 could do for players.
- Created by
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Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, Junichi Masuda
- Latest Film
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Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
- First Episode Air Date
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April 1, 1997
Summary
Spanning over twenty-five years, Pokemon, known as Pocket Monsters in Japan, is the multimedia franchise created jointly by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. Conceptualized by Satoshi Tajiri in association with Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda, Pokemon is set in fictional worlds where people live together with tamable creatures known as Pokemon. Humans who catch, raise, and battle the creatures are known as Pokemon Trainers. They head out on extensive journeys across their continents to raise their Pokemon with the ultimate goal of competing in tournaments to become the champion. Pokemon spans several massive properties, from a long-running animated series to a successful trading card game, to the medium that started it all, video games. In addition, Pokemon began the “two-game” trend where two versions of a game would release and include different Pokemon/features between the versions, encouraging players to meet up with others and trade so they could “catch ’em all.”
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