Pokemonfans are being spoiled this holiday season. Not only arePokemon Brilliant DiamondandPokemon Shining Pearlarriving on November 19, butPokemon Legends: Arcaeus, a new 3D iteration of the franchise with semi-open worldPokemoncatching, launching January 28. The Pokemon Company may have no plans to slow down in 2022, either. A leaker is claiming they’ve heard a newPokemongame, the 9th generation of the main franchise, will arrive in 2022, as well.
The report comes from Twitter account Centro Leaks, which frequently shares leaks from within thePokemoncommunity but doesn’t provide sources or evidence of any kind. Regardless, they have shared accurate leaks in the past, which makes this potential leak notable. According to Centro Leaks, the9th-generationPokemongamesare “well in development” and will launch in 2022. No further details about the release are provided.
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Obviously, Centro Leaks is not an entirely reliable source on this matter. Yet it’s an intriguing possibility, nevertheless. A late 2022 release for Game Freak’s nextPokemongame would still provide plenty of time for it to roll outDLC forPokemon Legends: Arceus, if it had the mind to. Annual iterations aren’t outside of The Pokemon Company’s ability, either. Between 2016 and 2019, The Pokemon Company releasedPokemon Sun,Moon,Ultra Sun,Ultra Moon,Let’s Go, Pikachu!,Let’s Go, Eevee!,Sword, andShield. If anything, a year without Pokemon is abnormal.
That said, it does seem like The Pokemon Company is accelerating its released of titles in the main franchise. Historically, The Pokemon Company would release additional versions of the same game before moving on, likePokemon YelloworPokemon Crystal. BothPokemon SunandPokemon MoonhadUltra SunandUltra Moon, all released within the past five years. Perhaps focusing on DLC instead of iterative releases has opened up the opportunity for more frequent major game releases.
There’s unfortunately no realistic way of verifying Centro Leaks' rumor at the moment, nor is official word likely to come soon. WithbigPokemongame releasescoming in November and January, as well as DLC likely to follow, an announcement of a 9th generationPokemongame launching in 2022 is likely to be held off until well into next year.
One last aspect to this leak worth mentioning is that it could tie into another exciting rumor. Rumors suggest that Nintendo will possibly launch aNintendo Switch Pro console that supports 4Kresolution in 2022. A newPokemongame that supports 4K would be an excellent system seller. 2022 is going to be very interesting forPokemonfans, one way or another.
A newPokemonmain series entry is rumored for release in 2022.
MORE:The Pokemon Series Should Hold Onto Pokemon Legends: Arceus' Sense of Danger
