Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! And Let’s Go, Eevee! Confirmed For November 16 Release

In tonight’s press conference, Pokémon Company has just confirmed that the next main Pokémon RPG will be the titles Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon:  Let’s Go, Eevee. The game is set for a November 16, 2018 release date. A trailer and all the emerging details can be seen below!

The newly announced duo of games is set to be highly inspired by Pokemon Yellow, taking place in the Kanto region. The game will feature the original 151 Pokemon (including some Alolan forms), plus one all-new Pokemon. The games will also feature mechanics directly influenced by Pokemon Go, including the ability to use motion control to toss a Pokeball. In fact, this Pokeball-tossing mechanic will completely replace normal Wild Pokemon battles.

The game can be played with one Joy-Con alone, and the game supports a 2-player co-op mode where each player controls their own trainer.

There will also be a Pokewalker-like accessory called the PokeBall Plus which can be used as a controller. That’s a joystick in the middle of the ball! It also has motion control for catching Pokemon. The PokeBall Plus can even be used as a Pokemon GO Plus device for the mobile game.

Bluetooth connectivity will allow Pokemon to be transferred from Pokemon GO to the new Pokemon: Let’s Go! games.

The full press release is below.

Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

With Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, Pokémon is inviting fans on a new journey by taking them back to a familiar setting. Inspired by Pokémon 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 Pokémon GO and are designed for players taking their first steps into the Pokémon video game world. Trainers will embark on an epic adventure set in the iconic Kanto region joined by their trusty Pikachu in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Eevee in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! They feature brand new gameplay to make the most of the unique capabilities of Nintendo Switch, such as throwing Poké Balls to catch Pokémon 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 Pokémon video game franchise.

“With the launch of Pokémon GO in 2016 and the global sensation that ensued, millions of new players were introduced to the world of Pokémon,” said Junichi Masuda, director at GAME FREAK inc. “For many people, Pokémon GO was their first experience with the Pokémon 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 Pokémon.”

The connection between these two new titles and Pokémon GO doesn’t end there – literally. GAME FREAK and The Pokémon Company teamed up with Niantic to bring next-level innovation by offering players the ability to connect their Pokémon GO to their Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! game. Players can catch Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region in Pokémon GO and then transfer them into their Nintendo Switch adventure. Something special will also be coming to the world of Pokémon GO, making the connection between both games even more appealing for Trainers. Details for this will be revealed in the near future.

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

 

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