Pokemon Scarlet And Violet Release Date, Trailer, And Gameplay - What We Know So Far

With the critical and commercial success of "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" still being fresh in gamers' memory, the time has come for the delivery of yet another traditional "Pokemon" title. Or rather, two of them! "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet" will be coming to the Nintendo Switch in Winter 2022, and with it a whole new collection of challenges for aspiring virtual "Pokémon" masters who wish to catch as many furry companions as they can and do battle with some of the best trainers in the land.

Initially announced as part of the "Pokémon Presents" event back in February, most of the more minute details about the two titles have been kept under wraps. Outside of the three adorable starter Pokémon that "Scarlet and Violet" will allow players to choose, not much else was initially revealed about the games when they were announced. However, as time has passed, more and more details about this new generation of "Pokémon" titles gradually come to the surface. Here's everything we currently know about "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet."

According to the games' official website, "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet" will release on the Nintendo Switch on November 18, 2022. Preorders for each individual game have gone live on the Nintendo eShop, though a double-pack version including both "Scarlet" and "Violet" is also available. The double-pack, however, is currently only available on the Nintendo eShop and is not available physically. The titles are currently selling for $59.99 each, while the double-pack is going for $119.99. The release of "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet" will mark the franchise's first foray into the ninth generation of "Pokémon" video games. Being main series releases, one can only expect both titles to do very well.

As per usual with each new release, "Pokémon" fans seem to be excited about what this next generation will bring to the franchise and how it will add to the series' lore. In a poll done by Nintendo Life, 65% of gamers had a positive reaction to the game's announcement and were looking forward to playing it. It does seem that there is some confusion on the part of the fandom as to which title they will ultimately purchase, with 38% of all prospective buyers saying they were unsure as to which title they will wind up diving into.

Since its announcement, "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet" has received two trailers, the most recent of which was released on June 1. The newest trailer runs at just over 3 minutes long and showcases the gameplay that will be implemented in both titles. Side-by-side comparisons are shown of "Scarlet" and "Violet," and particular focus seems to be placed on the three new starter Pokémon — Sprigatito, Quaxly, and Fuecoco. Other new Pokémon being introduced in the new generation were also showcased, in addition to new Legendary types and classic favorites.

How exactly the "Pokémon" fandom is receiving the trailer is hard to gauge, as likes and dislikes have been disabled by its publisher, Pokémon Asia English. Comments are also disabled due to it being classified as "made for kids." On Reddit, however, the excitement and memes have already become prominent. Particular praise was heaped upon Lechonk, a new pig-like Pokémon on the games' subreddit. New starter Pokémon Quaxly was also well-received, with one Redditor even comparing its close-ups to a Loreal commercial. 

While the traditional "Pokemon" video game experience can be boiled down to a primitive and simplistic top-down experience, Game Freak is trying to change the culture of the franchise forever with the releases of "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet." Advertised as the "first open-world RPG of the 'Pokémon' series," both "Scarlet" and "Violet" are being pushed as huge benchmarks for the franchise and its gameplay. "You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you're free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story," the games' official website says. "You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you."

"Pokemon Scarlet and Violet" will also contain a four-player multiplayer experience in which players can participate in traditional franchise activities, such as trading Pokémon, as well as exploring areas across the open world. Players can also battle with each other and even encounter new Pokémon together. Trailers seem to indicate that Pokémon capture will resemble the new system in "Pokémon Legends: Arceus," which allowed players to sneak up on unsuspecting creatures in order to catch them. In addition to these new elements and twists to the formula, both games are expected to be interpretations of the classic "Pokémon" games everyone grew up loving.

While both "Scarlet" and "Violet" will contain identical core gameplay mechanics, there are significant differences between the two titles that must be addressed. One of the most notable differences is that the games include two different professors — your trainer's mentor — that will be specific to either title. Professor Sada will be specific to "Scarlet" while Professor Turo will be your mentor in "Violet." The two's outfits express the difference in aesthetics between the two titles, with Sada's animal skin dress and arrow-laden necklace showing off the more earthy tones of "Scarlet" with Turo's Tron-like skin suit hinting at more sci-fi/cyberpunk vibes. Both Sada and Turo have become instant cult favorites and even the subject of some light crushing.

In addition to the aforementioned new starter Pokémon, both "Scarlet" and "Violet" will share new Pokémon such as Pawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv. Where the two will differ, however, will be the new Legendary Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon. Koraidon will be exclusive to "Scarlet" while Miraidon will be exclusive to "Violet." While not much is known about either Legendary Pokémon, their descriptions imply that they "have powers that far surpass those of other Pokémon."