New updates for the Pokémon game series may only be weeks away, with Pokémon Day 2022 coming at the end of February. The special event, which commemorates the start of the Pokémon series with the Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Green over two decades ago, has been a reliable source of Pokémon news for years. However, Pokémon Day 2022 could be particularly exciting, thanks to recent releases in the series like Pokémon Legends: Arceus, as well as the potential start of Gen 9 of the main series Pokémon games.
Last year, Pokémon Day held numerous exciting announcements as part of the Pokémon 25-year anniversary celebration. The games New Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus were all revealed during a special Pokémon Direct, giving fans of the series several large titles to get excited for. While Pokémon Day 2022 could offer big reveals for the series, it is unlikely the same number of large titles will be announced, especially with Pokémon Legends: Arceus freshly released.
This year, Pokémon Day will be Sunday, February 27, 2022. Currently, there have been no announcements from Nintendo or Game Freak on what players may expect to see, but it is likely more information will be released in the coming weeks. It is possible a Pokémon Direct could be announced, or that trailers could drop on social media outlining the developer’s plans for the Pokémon series in the coming months. Announcements for Pokémon Day 2022 could also detail plans for other Pokémon titles such as Pokémon GO and Pokémon Unite. Both games have started the year with numerous events for players to participate in like Pokémon GO’s packed February event list, and new content could help get players excited for future months of gameplay.
What Pokémon Day 2022 Could Announce For Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which was released on January 28, has been met with widespread excitement by fans of the Pokémon series. The new Gen 8 title reimagines mechanics from previous games in the series, utilizing open-world-inspired maps in Legends: Arceus and quest-based objective systems to create a refreshing and updated style of progression. However, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has a short primary narrative, and a regional Pokédex sporting less than 250 of the nearly 900 Pokémon Species that currently exist. Many players have already finished the main narrative and post-game content, and with no competitive battle system, this could create a bleak outlook for Pokémon Legends: Arcues’ long-term playability.
However, Pokémon Day 2022 may have announcements that could boost the content currently available in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Many are hopeful the new game will receive the same DLC expansions introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. It is possible a DLC expansion pass could be announced on Pokémon Day, alongside a release date or teaser trailer for what might be expected in the first bundle. This could include new areas, Pokémon species, or storylines for fans to enjoy.
It is also possible past game mechanics could be added to Pokémon Legends: Arceus via DLC, like Mega Evolution. A datamine recently revealed Mega Evolution code in Pokémon Legends: Arceus attached to numerous Mega Evolution-Capable species in the game. While the Hisui Pokédex is limited, many of the Pokémon included have had Mega forms in past games, like Gengar, Lucario, and Lopunny (among many others). The addition of Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Arceus could give players an exciting post-game adventure to locate Mega Stones, and potentially introduce Mega-Evolved Alpha Pokémon to battle and capture.
Pokémon Day 2022 Could Announce Content For Pokémon Sword & Shield
While Pokémon Sword and Shield appear to be at an end, with the third-year anniversary of their release coming up in November of 2022, there is still a chance the game could get one last update before Galar’s story concludes. Pokémon Sword and Shield have stayed surprisingly relevant despite receiving little new content throughout 2021, acting as the hub for the competitive battle scene and cooperative gameplay in Max Raid dens. It is possible a third DLC expansion for Sword and Shield could be announced during Pokémon Day 2022, adding some of the still-missing Pokémon species to a new location, and potentially giving some final narrative opportunities following key characters like Leon, Hop, and Piers.
It is also possible a small update could be introduced to Sword and Shield linking gameplay to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. New fossils could be added that bring Hisuian-form Pokémon back to modern times for competitive battle, or players could be sent on a journey to find missing artifacts scattered around Galar that belong to a Hisuian exhibit for a museum. This could also add new clothing options to Sword and Shield themed after the main characters from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Because Sword and Shield have remained popular with fans years after their release, further additional content could be an exciting and welcome update.
Pokémon Day 2022 Could Announce A New Game & Region For Gen 9
For many, Pokémon Day 2022 anticipation could be focused on announcements regarding Gen 9 of the Pokémon series. Because Pokémon Legends: Arceus steers away from the typical gameplay of main series games, a new title with familiar progression would likely do well with fans of old-school Pokémon plotlines. Currently, there has been no official information about what might be in the works from Nintendo or Game Freak, but the potential for a Gen 9 announcement is high. With Pokémon Legends: Arceus a confirmed Gen 8 game, and Sword and Shield now aging, Game Freak will likely introduce a new journey for players to tackle sometime at the end of this year or during 2023. However, it is likely a new main series Pokémon game could look very different from past generation-defining releases.
The next Gen 9 game in the Pokémon series could include a mixture of past popular mechanics like Gym Battles and the Elite Four, but combine it with elements that have been successful in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Open-world-style exploration could become a major feature of new titles in the series, as well as quest-based narrative points and side stories, creating a more flexible and personalized experience compared to previous games. The announcement of a Gen 9 game during Pokémon Day 2022 could be a great way to get players looking toward the future of the Pokémon series, and transition into what could be a new and exciting future for the long-standing RPG series.
