Nintendo reveals new Pok?mon products and plans for Nintendo Switch

There’s a whole lot to unpack from last night’s big Pok?mon announcement event, that’s for sure.

The rumors were indeed correct, the Nintendo Switch is getting a trio of Pok?mon games/experiences in 2018 anchored by Pok?mon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let’s Go, Eevee!. The Pok?mon: Let’s Go titles appear to be more casual Pok?mon adventure experiences that will link up with the super successful Pok?mon GO mobile game by Niantic. Also, to coincide with the Pok?mon: Let’s Go games which are scheduled for November 16th, 2018, Nintendo will be releasing the Pok? Ball Plus device which can be utilized as a controller for the Switch games and Pok?mon GO. The  Pok? Ball Plus features motion controls, lights, vibration, and also can plays sounds when connected to a Switch or mobile device.

There is also now a Pok?mon Quest eShop game (coming soon to mobile) that offers a totally new, free-to-download action RPG experience with a cute Pok?xel Pok?mon type. Phew.

Pok?mon 2018 Video Game Press Conference:

Pok?mon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let’s Go, Eevee! Trailer:

Pok?mon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let’s Go, Eevee! screens/art:

The Pok? Ball Plus product shots:

During a special Pok?mon press conference in Tokyo today, The Pok?mon Company International and Nintendo announced three new ways to play Pok?mon for Nintendo Switch?Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu!, Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee!, and the free-to-start Pok?mon Quest. With the addition of these new titles, Pok?mon is broadening the scope of video game offerings from the franchise to appeal to its wide variety of fans at all player levels. Pok?mon also announced that the next introduction to its popular core RPG series, which was teased last year at E3, will arrive in late 2019 on Nintendo Switch for the first time.

Pok?mon: Let?s Go Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee!
With Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee!, Pok?mon is inviting fans on a new journey by taking them back to a familiar setting. Inspired by Pok?mon Yellow, which was originally released in Japan on Nintendo?s Game Boy in 1998, these two new titles feature many of the intuitive gameplay functions offered to players in the hugely popular Pok?mon GO and are designed for players taking their first steps into the Pok?mon video game world. Trainers will embark on an epic adventure set in the iconic Kanto region joined by their trusty Pikachu in Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! or Eevee in Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! They feature brand new gameplay to make the most of the unique capabilities of Nintendo Switch, such as throwing Pok? Balls to catch Pok?mon by swinging Joy-Con controllers, as well as the opportunity for family and friends to battle and explore together in a new two-player mode. The games were unveiled in partnership with GAME FREAK, the games? developers and original creators of the Pok?mon video game franchise.

?With the launch of Pok?mon GO in 2016 and the global sensation that ensued, millions of new players were introduced to the world of Pok?mon,? said Junichi Masuda, director at GAME FREAK inc. ?For many people, Pok?mon GO was their first experience with the Pok?mon brand, so we have crafted these two new titles to be an accessible entry point to our core RPG series while giving our longtime fans a new way to play Pok?mon.?

The connection between these two new titles and Pok?mon GO doesn?t end there – literally. GAME FREAK and The Pok?mon Company teamed up with Niantic to bring next-level innovation by offering players the ability to connect their Pok?mon GO to their Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! or Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! game. Players can catch Pok?mon originally discovered in the Kanto region in Pok?mon GO and then transfer them into their Nintendo Switch adventure. Something special will also be coming to the world of Pok?mon GO, making the connection between both games even more appealing for Trainers. Details for this will be revealed in the near future.

The Pok? Ball Plus*, a device that can be used to play Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! in place of a Joy-Con or alongside Pok?mon GO instead of the Pok?mon GO Plus, was also unveiled, continuing the innovative ways to connect the games. The Pok? Ball Plus features motion controls, lights up with a variety of colors, vibrates, and plays sounds. When catching a Pok?mon in the Nintendo Switch games, players will be able to feel it moving within the device. It also does more than function as a controller?using the Pok? Ball Plus, players can bring one of their Pok?mon from Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! or Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! with them as they explore the real world, giving Trainers the opportunity to spend time with favorite Pok?mon even when they?re not playing the game. Additionally, Trainers can receive a variety of rewards once Pok?mon are returned to the Nintendo Switch games.

Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! will launch on November 16, 2018, exclusively on Nintendo Switch. The Pok? Ball Plus will be available at participating retailers on the same day.

Watch the Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! announcement trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jRtpMKLsts

For more information about Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! and Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee!, please visit: http://Pokemon.com/PokemonLetsGo

Pok?mon Quest

Pok?mon Quest, a rambunctious action RPG game, was also revealed at the press conference, along with the surprise for fans that it is available today on Nintendo eShop. Developed by GAME FREAK, Pok?mon Quest takes players across Tumblecube Island, where everything?s a cube ? including the Pok?mon. Travel the length and breadth of the island hunting for treasure, battling with wild Pok?mon, discovering unexplored territories, and even cooking tasty treats to tempt new Pok?mon to join your party. Gameplay features of Pok?mon Quest include:

• Battle by tapping ? Pok?mon Quest uses simple touch controls that can be enjoyed by everyone.
• Befriend many Pok?mon ? Use items collected throughout expeditions to befriend a wide array of Pok?mon.
• Create your Pok?mon dream team ? Partner with three of your Pok?mon friends to battle through diverse environments.
• Pok?mon unique to you ? Use different Power Stones to personalize your Pok?mon friends however you want and give them unique stats.
• Customize your base camp ? Decorate your home with cute and fun collectibles that not only look good, but can provide in-game benefits.

?This new Pok?mon title, developed by GAME FREAK, lets players explore the island of Tumblecube with their team of cute, cube-shaped characters known as Pok?xel,? said Shigeru Ohmori, director at GAME FREAK. ?Players will be able to personalize their Pok?mon and develop a strong bond with their Pok?mon friends while battling their way through the adventure. With the simple touch-screen controls, Pok?mon Quest is a game that Pok?mon fans of all ages can pick up and play.?

Pok?mon Quest is free-to-start and available to download today on Nintendo eShop. Pok?mon Quest will also be available on mobile devices via the App Store and Google Play in late June this year.

Watch the trailer for Pok?mon Quest here: https://youtu.be/j0AEUmgGHRE

For more information about Pok?mon Quest, please visit: http://pokemonquest.pokemon.com

*The Pok? Ball Plus will be sold separately and is not included with Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! or Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! At the time of release, the Pok? Ball Plus will only be compatible with Pok?mon Go, Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Pikachu! or Pok?mon: Let?s Go, Eevee! and will not be compatible with any other Nintendo Switch software.