Talking Point: Our 2025 Pokémon Presents Predictions – What Are You Hoping For? – Nintendo Life

GuestGuestLogin | Sign UpNintendo LifeGuestLogin or Sign UpNintendo Life used Detect!Much like the Mad Titan Thanos, the arrival of a Pokémon Presents showcase on Pokémon Day was inevitable. With the date now official and our faux surprise subsided, it’s time to start laying down some predictions.To address the Phanpy in the room: yes, Pokémon Presents showcases can be a little dry. But aside from the updates and event drops for Pokémon Sleep, Café ReMix, Masters EX and a bunch of other apps that we have to remind ourselves exist, previous years have also brought us our first look at Scarlet & Violet, DLC and Legends: Z-A. It sometimes feels like a long shot, but big things can happen.So, with hope in our hearts and a spring in our step, we’ve started thinking about our predictions for the upcoming event. Here’s what we’re hoping to see this week; you can let us know your hopes and dreams in the poll and comments below.Quick, act surprised!On this page: Talking Point: Our 2025 Pokémon Presents Predictions – What Are You Hoping For?OLLIE: At this point, I think we can probably expect a decent chunk of gameplay looking at Lumiose City, the protagonist, the battle system, and all that good stuff. A release date isn’t out of the question, but I’m not too confident about that just yet. I feel like The Pokémon Company is keen to avoid a specific date until it’s absolutely ready in the hope that it can avoid another Scarlet and Violet situation, but we’ll see.GAVIN: Gameplay and a few reveals are obviously expected, although I’m wondering if they’ll stop short of a release date. With Switch 2 reveal details still unknown, I wouldn’t be surprised if they flag a Legends: Z-A-specific broadcast later on that will have the release date details. Just a hunch — and it’ll obviously be launched in time for the holidays — but if they want some wiggle room to push the launch between weeks in October or November, perhaps they’ll keep the launch date to a vague ‘Late 2025’ at the mo.JIM: Everything that my learned colleagues have said above feels like a safe bet to me, too. I can picture a first gameplay trailer that’s all about some ‘new’ ‘mon (be that a regional variant or some swish Legendary) and how you’ll be interacting with them in the urban environment. It would be really nice to get a decent look at the art style too — I like that little neon Pika from last year’s tease, but give me something else to look at… please.ALANA: This won’t be the place for a deep dive on Z-A, and part of me is slightly fearful of a minor delay, but I do think we’ll get some sort of a trailer, as others have said. If we do get gameplay, I want to see something brand new — give me that city-building feature that I’m dreaming of, Game Freak…GAVIN: Sure, some limited-time Pokémon GO event. Sleep gets an overhaul or something. The Café game gets some new mode. I’ll grab a coffee during this bit.OLLIE: Normally I’d be on the same page as Gavin here, but if there’s new information provided for Pokémon TCG Pocket, I’ll be paying close attention. I’m not completely invested in the game and have yet to venture into the world of battling and trading, but I do love opening those packs every day. A special event or the announcement of new booster packs would be welcome.JIM: Much like Ollie, I’m all about TCG Pocket and have my fingers crossed for some news on it. It feels a little early to drop the next expansion after Space-Time Smackdown, but the reveal of the headline cards and a release date could work. Aside from that, I am willing to put all my money on hearing “[insert obscure Pokémon here] is being added to Pokémon Unite!”ALANA: Is it time for a new app? I mean, the franchise turns 30 next year, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we got something new for phones and tablets. A Pokémon cooking app, maybe? You know you want it.OLLIE: A remake announcement at this stage would really surprise me. Let’s face it, although Z-A is a known entity now, it’s still yet to be showcased properly, so I would imagine The Pokémon Company will want all the focus to be on that for now. A new remake would completely steal its thunder.ALANA: I mean, if we do see a remake, it’ll be Black & White, right? But again, given the big 3-0 is next year, I’m 100% expecting them to wheel out some new take on Kanto. Just not this year. Honestly? Remake — or remaster — Pokémon Colosseum. Now that’d get me excited.JIM: I agree that revealing something else at this point makes very little sense, but let’s look at things another way: this is The Pokémon Company. We got zero games from them last year, and a bit of me wonders whether that means 2025 will see TPC back with a vengeance. Who am I kidding? I just want to see ‘HeartierGold and SoulierSilver’.GAVIN: I don’t think TPC could put out another Kanto remake with a straight face, but Johto? They could get away with that and have almost the same level of Red/Blue nostalgia.Gotta snag em’ allALANA: Noooo. Outside of “we’re working on it” (and that’s being optimistic), I think TPC needs to let Z-A have the spotlight. We have some new forms from the new Legends game to look forward too, after all!JIM: Off the back of my last answer, there’s a part of me that can imagine this. Does it make any sense? Heck no! But we ended up getting Arceus and ScaVi in the same year back in 2022, and if TPC wants to drum up hype for Switch 2 with a teaser of what’s to come, Gen 10 and a mysterious ‘2026’ release window could be the way to do it.GAVIN: Hmm, I don’t see it. I get the sense that the backlash against Scarlet and Violet’s tech issues have been taken to heart and Switch 2 will give Game Freak some room to manoeuvre without transforming into optimisation wizards – and a new-gen, mainline Pokémon game would drive Switch 2 sales very nicely, too. Switch has an enormous install base, granted, but I think Gen X will debut on more powerful hardware.OLLIE: Yeah, again this would encroach on Z-A’s territory, and like Gavin said, I’m not sure anybody wants a repeat of Scarlet and Violet. Z-A will launch later this year and take full advantage of the Switch install base while also catering to those early adopters for the Switch 2. Meanwhile, Gen 10 can cook for a bit longer and maybe start the ball rolling in 2026.GAVIN: It’s too early to take the wind out of Z-A’s sails with another Legends game before the second is even out, but a Kanto-based Legends could let TPC have its Kanto cake and eat it. Maybe not this time, but I can see it happening next.OLLIE: Everyone wants the classic games on NSO, right? Though I’ve also seen chatter online that The Pokémon Company may simply opt for a full release compiling multiple Gens in one package. Honestly, either approach is viable, but if they’re going to be released on NSO, I think they’ll be locked to the higher tier, regardless of platform.ALANA: Let’s expand on that earlier Colosseum mention, then… a double-pack, featuring XD: Gale of Darkness. Can you imagine?JIM: I think that an NSO drop is out of the question by this point. People would pay full price for the classic games and TPC knows that, so, as ever, I am tentatively hoping for that one. Honestly, a new spin-off would make me so happy (I’m very much in the mood for more Pokémon Snap, as unlikely as that seems) and I’ll hedge my bets and say that a ‘Detective Pikachu 2’ trailer is on the way. That ‘wild’ enough for ya?JIM: Hah… no. Nintendo is keeping all of the Switch 2 goodness for its own April Direct, and no pesky ‘mons are going to spoil that.GAVIN: At most there’ll be a ‘Playable on Switch 2′ nod to Z-A being playable on the system via backwards compatibility. But with all Nintendo’s plans tightly under wraps, from a PR perspective, this isn’t the venue to be dropping NS2 bombshells that distract from the Pokémessaging.ALANA: There’s a slim chance, but I don’t think so. I think Nintendo will want the first reveal for Switch 2 of any big first-party stuff — including Pokémon.OLLIE: I don’t think Switch 2 will be mentioned at all. In fact, there won’t even be a disclaimer to say that Switch 2 won’t be mentioned, it’ll just be completely absent. I suspect there will be a few nods to the system in Z-A’s marketing later in the year, i.e. post-April Direct, but for now, it’ll be focused entirely on the OG Switch.Is it all Sleep Talk?So, what’s the big reveal that you’re hoping for? You can let us know in the following poll and then take to the comments to share your full predictions.(You may select up to 3 answers)About Jim NormanJim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since.Comments 56Hopes: Pokemon Yellow/Red/Blue on NSOExpectations: mobile games and Z-A first look/release dateDefinitely going to be fluffed with all of their mobile and MOBA updates, along with additional information on Worlds 2025 and more Year of Eevee merchandise announcements.I think the only Switch game you can expect to see will be Legends Z-A. I’ll be pleasantly surprised by anything else I guess!Season 2 of conciergeJust let me play the classic games on NSO. It’s not complicated!Obviously in depth look at ZA. Masters, Cafe Mix, Unite, Sleep, Go, and Pocket will al get updates…writing it all out that’s a lot of mobile games does anybody play all of them? Then probably a big focus on the TCG trainer EX cards. Finally hopefully something big and new to wow us!Probably just ZA realistically for Switch. I would like a classic collection released on Switch but honestly I don’t know.Maybe they could re-release X and Y on Switch from the 3DS🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️But ofc mobile games will be there too.I’m looking forward to Z-A and Pocket news, and beyond that a new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon please, or some other cool (console, not mobile) spin-off. Seeing a new mainline remake would be awesome but I don’t see it happening yet, and Gen X seems even less likely.The Pokémon Company never learn or improve, so I’m fully expecting a Gen 10 tease. There will be zero gameplay shown, and the final game (out this November) will be even buggier and uglier than Gen 9.Hoping for a bold new direction. You play as a Mr. Mime, hiding and fleeing from trainers out to catch you. And when one spots you, you run by shouting “Mime! Mime! Mime!” into the Switch 2 microphone. The louder you shout, the faster you run.Eh, I’m not even going to bother expecting much or anything. That’s just me playing it safe.Not a hope or an expectation, but I was just thinking it’d be really cool (and supremely low budget) if they did a Gen1 port that came with a swath of updates.Like, it still looks and sounds like our ol’ favorite GB(C) game…but it has Mega Evolutions, held items, new moves, stat splits, typing changes, etc. all accounted for. Plus any evolutions that have come out since then. All with new GB sprites.They could even add on a hundred grand of development costs and animate the battle sprites.If remakes are going to look worse than the originals, then why not just make them look LIKE the originals?Repeat for every generation as necessary.What I would LOVE for another Pinball game. This or another Mystery Dungeon game would be amazing. I’d even settle for another Snap game. Something good please!A Pokemon Direct just ~1 Month prior to the Switch 2 Direct makes it almost irrelevant imo.. No game for the Switch 2 will be announced, although Z-A should be backwards compatible ofc. I think that by the time of it’s release the new Console will be around the corner/released. And GameFreak has not done anything in the last decade to disserve a now considered “previous gen” game to be bought full price.I would love first generation games on switch NSO. That would be perfect. Even better? First and second generation <3Something worth caring about is it, really. It's going to take a lot to make me bother with ZA so needs to be something or other new that's actually going to catch my interest, be it putting the old games on NSO or a new Pokemon Conquest or another mainline game that's more to my taste than PLA is or what.Actually seeing Legends Z-A and potentially even a release date is what I expect and also hope first and foremost, but TCG Pocket news as in a new expansion or something like that is also quite likely and definitely welcome in my book - still doubt we'll see more when it comes to Pokémon games on Switch, but I'd love a spin-off remake/remaster and/or more games coming to NSO (personally would gladly take more spin-offs, but of course I'd take and also be happy for others if somehow mainline games finally came to it) and please, no more than a tease when it comes to gen 10 if they're even showing it in the first place so that they can take their time with it and that's coming from someone who overall enjoyed Scarlet despite its technical issues!The only Pokemon thing I'm really interested in is Legends. I thought Arceus was a move in the right direction and even with it's flaws I enjoyed it a ton. I'm hoping for more details on ZA and I'm hoping that it continues what Arceus has and improves upon it.Only other thing I'd love to see is a new Pokemon Conquest.Don't care about anything related to PoGo, Pokemon Sleep or Pokemon TCG Pocket. They are all a glorified time suck and tiring to keep up with. Looking forward to hopefully getting a glimpse of some actual Switch-based Pokemon titles, personally.We all know 90% of the presentations just going to be mobile games...The rest will be a tiny bit about Z-A. I don't think anything else is coming as much as I'd like to see some more remakes.BETTER LOOKING POKEMON DESIGNS.@Ulysses we're not getting anything Switch 2 related things from Nintendo and its partners until April 2nd.@anoyonmus I disagree, Pokemon almost never gets attention during official Nintendo Directs. If TPC wants to market a Switch 2 version of Z-A, then the Poke Presents is the best time to do it.I expect only legends z-a and mobile game stuff. Its a long shot, but id very much like a mystery dungeon game. But with shiren the wanderer 6 only having recently released I feel this is tragically unlikely, among other business factors for spike chunsoft. Optimistically, I hope Z-A releases in May to fill the gap between Xenoblade Chronicles X and a likely summer launch of switch 2. Other leaked outings seem to be very early in development or even scrapped/stalled so I dont expect a new spinoff at this juncture@Ulysses I think a cross generation release for this game is unprecedented and Id doubt it would come. Game freak taking that extra time will hopefully just allow the game to meet a higher bar than scarlet and violet on the base switch given their apparent resources. Nintendo might want to showcase the improved fidelity of Switch 2 in their own presentation because they are VERY protective of their messaging, and even if there were a marginally better looking crummy visuals pokemon game, that would seriously damage the precious first impression, sorry to sayWell, Pyoro's teased over on BlueSky that a multiplayer project developed by ILCA, Game Freak, and apparently The Pokemon Company itself codenamed "Synapse" that was uncovered during the Game Freak gigaleak will show up. So this is going to be the most interesting Pokemon Presents in years on account of that and Z-A showing up. 2 non-mobile announcements (maybe) - imagine that@spottedleaf GF hasn't even really properly utilized the Switch 1 hardware to its full extent as well.@anoyonmus Precisely. With an extra development year the best we can hope for is an improvement over scarlet and violet if thats the style they are going for and yet still below the bar of first party nintendo offerings on switch.Personally I believe its the style of game they are trying to make thats kneecapping them, when they made 2D games they were well designed and content rich and even lets go was very visually appealing in my eyes. Oh well. Since BOTW everything has to be a massive 3D open world since i guess that = betterMy prediction:I'm not really sure what to predict in terms of a spinoff or a remake, for some reason I think a spinoff of some kind might be more likely than a remake but I'm not sure what the spinoff would look like.@Dizzard Wouldn't it be best to announce Gen 10 next year since its gonna 30 years of Pokémon next year?@spottedleaf Pretty much yeah. Personally for me this Pokémon Presents, I'm not expecting much on the Switch front really apart from Legends ZA and idk maybe some classics coming to Switch (But Idk about that one).I'm HOPING for ANYTHING that will excite me. Just one game that can get me hyped for something Pokémon related.I'm not gonna predict anything though.I will be watching just for any game reveals, hopefully there's more than just a Legends ZA trailer. I would love to see a Black/White Remake or even the return of the Ranger series, which would work great with the Switch 2 joy con mouse compatibility to circle around the Pokémon.I hope we get more real games than just ZA. Im so sick of their fixation on phone crapPokemon on NSO at least?Legends Z-A seems like a given, though I hope it's their last Switch game. I'd love to see the Pokemon Presents open with an in-depth look at that and close with a vague tease and a "tune in to the Switch 2 Direct for more." Might be asking a bit too much there, though. As for TCG Pocket, I'd rather see some new events or features than the next set of cards.@LastFootnote The way you say this, it's almost like you want it to happen.It's important to have some skepticism, but this level of pessimism is just counter-productive.@BrazillianCara I just call ‘em like I see ‘em. I don’t think it’s productive or counterproductive.For what it’s worth, I’m optimistic about Z-A! I loved Arceus and I’m hoping this next one will be at least as fun.As with Nintendo Directs, I like keeping my expectations low so that I can be genuinely surprised. At the very least, I'm expecting more on Pokemon Legends: Z-A and a plethora of mobile title news.I wouldn't complain if we see something about Gen 10, but I can wait since I have yet to play Gen 9. I hope to play my backlogged copy of Pokemon Scarlet pretty soon, bugs and all.1. Less handphone game contents2. No weirdo looking characters like gen 9 Pokemon3. Three playable Pokemons with Action RPG mechanism.There’s a rumor of Pokémon compilation Gen 1-3 coming out to be revealed at Pokemon Presents. I guess it’s most likely to be fake?@Don Could be false, could be real who knows. I think its a 50-50 since TPC will make a lot of money of a Pokémon Classics Compilation of Gen 1-3 if they charge full price for it and THEY KNOW that people want it. So I say 50-50. Could happen, could not happen.If it does happen, then maybe next year would make sense since its Pokémon's 30th anniversary next year.I think Z/A will be cross gen and before you say no its not April 2nd, don't forget they have already revealed Mario Kart 9. And on the original switch trailer back in 2016 multiple games where there. It's still a bit of a long shot but I think no pokemon in 2024 and them changing to 2025 is some evidence to suggest it could be Switch 2 bound as well.Of course we won't get a first peek at Gen 10. This year will be full Pokemon Legends, and that makes me happy. I hope it has improved a lot the formula. The potential is there!@anoyonmus Yeah it would be really awesome if true. Would buy it day one even if it’s $100.Pokemon Colosseum and XD bundle. Take note.Best case scenario would be a retro collection with all of Gen I-III, complete with a physical release, and certainly not this split release/half digital crap from the 4chan "leak".I would also like to have seen a remake or enhanced port of X/Y ahead of the release of Legends Z-A (especially for the young ones who never got a chance to play it the first time around), but I won't hold my breath.I've still hankering for remakes of Gens II/V though. And with respect to Gen V, it better damn well include the sequel too, even if they end up releasing them separately.@SillyG not sure why we trust anything from 4chan.@anoyonmus : I don't, but it doesn't help that the interwebz have collectively reported it.NSO has been quiet this month, it's been two weeks again with only Warioland 4. I'm guessing we'll see something Pokemon. And it will be a spinoff, so place your bets on Pokemon pinball gb or GBA, or Pokemon puzzle League! 😂And this is if we're lucky!It strikes me as an odd position to be worried about another game announcement "stealing the limelight" from legends Z-A.For most people are able to notice and be excited about multiple things simultaneously: like IPs outside of Pokémon. And let's say there was a game that was so good everybody forgot about Legends Z-A — wouldn't that be a good thing!?!?!But each to their own.Personally, I want it all and more Multiple announcement hype!Really liked that gen 9 reveal with the guy in the museum (think it was a museum?) With the flashlight. Something simple like that for gen 10 would be nice.Z-A trailer with plenty of info (or a summary of new stuff, with an additional video on their youtube channel to follow after the presentation), and gen 1-2-3 on NSO or available standalone, with PKMN Home support similar to how gen 1-2 on 3DS worked as part of virtual console with PKMN Bank support.A bit for Z-A, a lot of babble about the mobile games, and that will pretty much be it...I hope for a Pokemon World game - Where you can start in one region and go to another region and complete your dex. That would be a blast.so a unified collection of the classics. no more is neededThe next two days are going to be rough, trying my best to stay leak-free! I suppose now is the best time to go dark from my usual websites until Thursday. Lots of reading and hobbies to do until then!@garfreek I hope we get some main retro Pokemon titles re-released in original form instead of the spinoffs. 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