Nintendo surprised us all back in February with a big reveal of the next Pokémon generation: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This came at the end of their Pokémon Presents Direct, and outshone all the other announcements in our humble opinion.
Coming to the Nintendo Switch console family late in 2022, the next generation is set in a so-far un-named region that closely resembles the Mediterranean, with plenty of cute new ‘Mons to add to a robust line-up of our old favourites and updated character designs over Pokémon Sword and Shield.
We’ll keep this page updated with news about the games, and links to our handy pre-orders page, guides to help you plan your next adventure into the Pokemon world, and a full list of which Pokémon we will see in the new region.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet latest trailer
The most recent trailer we got for Scarlet and Violet is right here, and shows us a new Girafarig evolution, sandwich making, and more!
A previous Pokémon Scarlet and Violet trailer is here, showing off the basics of the game:
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet release date
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release on November 18, 2022 - as confirmed with the release of the second trailer. Pre-orders are live now.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet pre-order deals
A pre-registration page for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet popped up recently, for eager fans to register their interest and get the news straight to their inbox.
Pre-orders have also started cropping up in the usual places.
Pokémon Scarlet pre-orders
Pokémon Violet pre-orders
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet dual pack pre-orders
So far there are no bonuses or particularly special editions, except the dual Steelbook pack:
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Dual Pack Steelbook edition - Nintendo Store - £99.99
Scarlet And Violet starter Pokémon
Following the age-old tradition of Pokémon games, Scarlet and Violet have three starters: a Fire-type, a Water-type, and a Grass-type. These are: Fuecoco, a mischievous crocodilian animal that somewhat resembles a chili; Quaxly the duck, and a green, leafy cat named Sprigatito.
Each starter comes with abilities complimenting their typing and will evolve twice. As of yet, we haven’t been shown their middle or final evolutions - so we’ll need to be patient in making informed decisions for which to pick.
Will Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have a season pass?
Following on from Pokémon Sword and Shiel, we're pretty sure a Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Season Pass will exist. New generation games are designed to last around two years, with the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLCs for the first mainline games on Nintendo Switch being robust DLC packages that kept things ticking over.
With that in mind, the likelihood of Pokémon Scarlet And Violet having a similar deal seems relatively high, but we'll have to wait for official confirmation.
Gameplay in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Let's take a look at some key areas in Scarlet and Violet: which Pokémon will there be, what is the new region like, and more.
Which Pokémon are in Scarlet and Violet?
So far there have been quite a few Pokémon spotted in the Scarlet and Violet trailers and screenshots - our full list can be found here.
Creatures from a lot of previous generations make appearances, including Blissey (which will include Happiny and Chansey), Swablu, and an original form of Meowth. Sadly Gen 9 doesn’t get a new form as Alola and Galar did.
We've only seen a handful of new Pokémon from Gen 9 other than the three starters Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Sprigatito, including Fidough and Lechonk.
What is the new region in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
The setting of the upcoming games has a name, finally: Paldea. It is based on what appears to be the Mediterranean area, specifically the Iberian Peninsula. This is all but confirmed thanks to eagle-eyed fans spying a map of the area in the cinematic trailer. We don’t have a name yet for the Gen 9 region.
Judging by Fuecoco’s chili shape, we can assume that there will be more nods to Mediterranean culture and motifs involved with the region’s design and creatures.
Will Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have any Legends: Arceus Features?
The big question going around is whether Game Freak has carried over any new features from the mold-breaking Legends: Arceus, into the new mainline games. The battling mechanics appear to have reverted to the classic ways, but the game has been confirmed as ‘open-world’.
There have also been hints of Hisuian forms appearing, thanks to a Hisuian Zoroark featuring in the background picture of the official website.
There are a couple of new features on top of those coming from previous games. The two legendaries are our transport Pokémon this time around, which is an odd change from previous games.
Following on from Z-Moves, Dynamax Pokémon and Arceus' Space-,Time Distortions, we have a new gimmick for making Pokémon more powerful in battle: the Terastal Phenomenon. This can buff your Pokémon's attack and defense, and can even change their type!
Differences between Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Thanks to the new trailer, we now know that there are some significant differences between Scarlet and Violet. In a series first, there are now two different professors - Professor Sada and Professor Turo come with the two options, respectively. There are also two different legendaries that have been revealed as Koraidon and Miraidon.
And that's all there is to say on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet right now. We're eagerly awaiting November 18 when the game releases!