It didn’t take long for the Nintendo Switch to become one of the industry’s most popular systems.
The console/handheld hybrid has sold more than 32 million units as of December 2018, thanks in no small part to big-name exclusives in the vein of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the really rather stunning Breath of the Wild. And while the Powers That Be have brought everyone’s favorite pocket monsters to the Switch in the form of Pokémon: Let’s Go (our review), there’s still a tangible demand for the console’s first mainline Pokémon RPG. But it is coming – and soon, apparently.
Last we reported, The Pokémon Company were aiming for a late 2019 release, which would indicate that an announcement is imminent. In fact, the latest Internet scuttlebutt (h/t ComicBook.com) suggests that the big reveal may take place sometime this month.
For instance, the Nintendo Direct presentation currently scheduled for Wednesday, February 13th is expected to place the focus on the Metroid Prime Trilogy coming to the Switch, along with a possible announcement for Super Mario Maker 2. Could it be that The Pokémon Company will choose to showcase their wares later this week? It’s certainly possible.
Whatever the case, the studio’s CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara previously told Bloomberg that he has big hopes for Pokémon on Switch – even if he doubted the console when it was first introduced.
I came to realize the key to a successful game is quite simple – software with absolute quality leads sales of hardware. Playing style can be flexible if the software is attractive enough. With the Switch, we see it as a chance to create Pokémon that goes deeper and with a higher level of expression. As a result, that makes it an extremely important platform […] Right now we’re using 7 to 8 inch screens, but on a high-definition TV you can express a whole different world with graphics and sound.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on The Pokémon Company and its latest developments as more information comes to light, so be sure to stay tuned.