Pokemon Day 2024 predictions

A big Victory Road hello to all the new Cooltrainers joining us for the first time this week. I’m your pal, Cooltrainer Ace, here to bring you Pokémon news minus the clickbait and banner ads (but definitely with a little humor and a pinch of salty).

Since some of you are new, I won’t share the horrifying story of a Golbat trying to eat my foot through the sleeping bag last night. We want you to stick around.

Let’s get into the news!

Here’s this week’s rundown (estimated read time, 11 minutes):

• Predictions for Pokémon Day 2024 (an epic overview)

• Your guide to this weekend’s Pokémon GO Tour: Sinnoh

• This Card of the Week is a neon dream

Pokemon Day 2024 Predictions

Here we are, Cooltrainers: just days away from one of the most mysterious Pokémon Days in recent memory. Though nothing may top the surprise of ‘22 when they announced Scarlet & Violet just weeks after the release of Legends Arceus, the slate is so blank that anything feels possible.

In case you’ve been living under a Regirock, the presents is scheduled for 6 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, February 27. Here’s a quick link to the Pokémon YouTube page where it will air live.

But let’s be realistic. Sensible. In a world of raging Primeapes, we’re going to channel our inner Oranguru.

I don’t have an uncle that works at Nintendo/Game Freak/The Pokémon Company. And I don’t spend hours everyday scanning 4chan for leaks and rumors. I’m giving common sense answers without hype or personal preference.

As I wrote last week, Pokémon is at a crossroads. While anything and everything is possible, let’s talk about what’s probable.

Mainline Games

Discussing mainline games, we’ll break things down into a few categories. I’ve heard arguments, claims and ridiculous pitches for everything from Let’s Go Togepi to Legends Kyurem. Before we HM08 (dive) into each of them, here’s my list in order of most likely to least likely.

1. Older generation ports to Switch

2. Gen 5 third-party-developed remake

3. Another Legends installment

4. Another Let’s Go installment

And here’s the forget-about-it-not-coming list

• Gen 10

• Additional Scarlet & Violet DLC (in case you didn’t know, “epilogue” means finale/conclusion. We’re done here.)

1- Older Gen Ports

I’m already putting clown makeup on my face for this one, if only because they should have happened 5 years ago and haven’t yet. It just makes so much sense. Need content to get fans by before a new console launches? Port in old games, sell them for $20-40 bucks and print money. How hard is that?

If we’re going to go all Detective Pikachu about this, the music in the Pokémon Presents announcement is very Gen 1 Gameboy-sounding. It ain’t much, but it’s the best evidence we’ve got at this point.

If ports actually happen, my guess is we’ll get Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Fire Red, and Leaf Green.

Fire Red/Leaf Green feels a little pointless with Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee already on the Switch. I personally wouldn’t play them again but to each their own.

I’d be thrilled to have a Heart Gold/Soul Silver port or Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire. DS games don’t translate to Switch as easily as Gameboy titles do, however. And there are currently no DS games in Nintendo Switch Online (if they ARE coming, the time is ripe).

Possible but it feels like a heavier lift than Nintendo or Game Freak will make.

2- Third-party developed Gen 5 remake

Ship this off to ILCA and watch the Poké Dollars roll in while you work on titles for a new console and 30th Anniversary. Sounds like a done deal to me.

As reported a few weeks ago in an updated list of Pokémon games lifetime sales, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl is the 11th bestselling Pokémon game at 15,060,000 units. This number is only 10,000 less than Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee and above Legends Arceus at 14,830,000.

No matter how you feel about the chibi style, this arrangement makes the most sense for The Pokémon Company and Game Freak. They keep the release wheel churning while continuing to develop these more intense 3D games.

It’s not a pattern until it repeats, so getting another ILCA, Legends or Let’s Go title will give us a better idea at the long-term release strategy.

3- Another Legends installment

If it weren’t for the fact Legends Arceus was officially labeled a mainline game, my fear would be we’d never see another Legends installment. And that would be a shame—I’ll die on that hill.

The puzzle we’re trying to solve is whether Legends Arceus was set in Gen 4’s ancient Sinnoh (Hisui) because a Gen 4 revisit was scheduled or because Arceus, being the creator of all Pokémon, had to be the launching point for a Legends series of games.

The answer matters because it hints at what a sequel Legends installment might cover. If remakes are getting a dual third-party + Legends treatment, then we could expect to head to Gen 5 for both games next.

If Legends follows a separate path, there are a few possibilities. Everyone is throwing around Legends Celebi. Yes, that would be amazing. Is it likely?

“Everyone” was also throwing around a return to Kalos just a few months ago before the Scarlet & Violet DLC released. I’ve yet to come across any real evidence that justifies a Gen 2 Legends game over a Gen 3 or 5 Legends game. The only reason I rule out the others is because we’ve already revisited Gen 1 so much and Gen 6 or beyond is jumping ahead of the remake wagon.

Here’s my wild prediction: Pokémon Legends: Rayquaza.

4- Let’s Go installment

TL;DR - Don’t get your hopes up for more Let’s Go.

Until proven otherwise, I maintain that Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee were one-offs designed to capitalize on the launch of the Switch and the popularity of Pokémon GO.

The Pokémon Company wanted to bring over GO players to a new console and introduce (or reintroduce) them to the mainline games.

It seems far more likely that we’d get a similar game in this vein next year as part of the Switch 2 release, utilizing whatever new bells and whistles it comes with (VR, anybody?). If that’s the case, it won’t be teased before Switch 2 is announced.

Aside from that, trying to carry on this Pikachu/Eevee theme to Gen 2 is clunky. Togepi and Marrill are not Pikachu and Eevee. They don’t carry the same brand recognition. Plus, Togepi has two evolutions, while Marrill is an evolved middle form Pokémon. Like I said: clunky.

Spinoffs and Side Games

This Pokémon Presents is ripe for spinoffs and side games. Along with porting older gens to the Switch and a third-party developed remake, these are the titles that make the most sense during this transition to Gen 10, 30th Anniversary, and Switch 2.

A new Mystery Dungeon game is what I’ve heard the most chatter/wishful thinking for. Honestly, the timing feels right for something like Colosseum (I said “like” not sequel). If you’re shifting resources and focus to developing a title for new hardware these games are the perfect filler content.

Something new?

The argument here is that Game Freak may want to experiment with additional features and mechanics before the already-hyped Gen 10 announcement. No one was expecting Legends Arceus, either, remember.

Paid streaming service

Who’s ready for Pokémon Plus? The recent (and sudden) sunsetting of the Pokémon TV app and Netflix announcing Pokémon Journeys and Pokémon Master Journeys are leaving on March 4 point to Pikachu rolling out a paid streaming service.

With the sheer volume of content the franchise has, it makes too much sense. Then again, the same could be said about porting older gens to the Switch, and we’ve seen how that’s gone so far.

If I was forced to pick one Pokémon Day 2024 prediction to gamble all my money on, it would be this. Which leads us to…

A new Pokémon movie?

Fun fact: There was a Pokémon movie released for twenty-three years straight, 1998-2020. Pandemic and strikes notwithstanding, we’re long overdue for another.

And what better way to announce a new paid streaming service than with a brand new Pokémon movie, with an exclusive launch on said service?

The timing is the only thing that puts this in a weird place. With Ash in retirement, it’s safe to assume the next movie will feature the protagonists from Horizons, but the U.S. release isn’t until March 7. Announcing a movie based on characters from a series that isn’t out yet is a little awkward. Like bringing your pet Magikarp on a first date.

At best, I think we’ll get a teaser for something coming late summer/early fall, or maybe production news for another live-action film?

Some sort of sequel or spinoff of Detective Pikachu WAS planned, way back in 2019 (talk about a different world ago). According to Screenrant (best source, I could find, okay?), the “sequel” has a different director and writer but no other movement.

Wrap it up, Ace

The bottom line is, go into Pokémon Day with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed. On the video game side of things, the franchise is at an awkward spot leading into a new console and its vaunted 30-year anniversary. What we’ll see this year (and perhaps in 2025 as well) is meant to fill the gap.

If you find yourself getting madder than a Mankey with whatever is (or isn’t) announced on Tuesday, just remember: we wanted them to take their time.

Pokémon GO Tour: Sinnoh arrives

It’s finally time for the Tour to kick off this weekend. On February 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, Pokémon GO transforms into a celebration of Sinnoh (and Hisui).

Event Bonuses:

• 1/2 Hatch Distance for Eggs placed in Incubators during the event

• Up to 6 Special Trades can be made each day

• 1/2 Stardust cost for trades

• There will be no limit on Remote Raids between Friday, February 23 at 12:00 a.m. and Sunday, February 25 at 11:59 p.m. local time.

• Increased chance of Shiny Hisuian Voltorb, Shiny Hisuian Qwilfish, Shiny Pachirisu, Shiny Chatot, and Shiny Carnivine hatching from Eggs.

Egg Hatches:

• 2KM Eggs: Budew, Chingling, Bonsly, Mime Jr., Happiny, Munchlax, Riolu, Mantyke (all shiny unlocked)

• 5KM Eggs: Hisuian Voltorb, Hisuian Qwilfish, Stunky, Gible (all shiny unlocked)

• 10KM Eggs: Pachirisu, Chatot, Carnivine (all shiny unlocked)

Special Research Encounters: Origin Forme Dialga (if you choose the Diamond badge), and Origin Forme Palkia (if you choose the Pearl badge)

Wild Encounters will be determined by the habitat:

• Bustling Boardwalk: Pikachu wearing Lucas’s hat, Pikachu wearing Dawn’s hat, Magnemite, Electabuzz, Porygon, Ralts, Piplup, Starly, Bidoof, Trash Cloak Burmy, Buizel, East Sea Shellos, West Sea Shellos, Drifloon, Glameow (all shiny unlocked) plus shiny locked Finneon.

• Ancient Grove: Pikachu wearing Rei’s cap, Pikachu wearing Akari’s kerchief, kerchief Hisuian Growlithe, Hisuian Voltorb, Tangela, Eevee, Misdreavus, Nosepass, Roselia, Turtwig, Kricketot, Plant Cloak Burmy. Combee, Cherubi, Bronzor (all shiny unlocked)

• Toxic Digs: Pikachu wearing Lucas’s hat, Pikachu wearing Dawn’s hat, Aipom, Yanma, Gligar, Sneasel, Duskull, Shinx, Cranidos, Shieldon, Sandy Cloak Burmy, Stunky, Gible, Hippopotas, Skorupi, Croagunk (all shiny unlocked)

• Geothermal Lagoon: Pikachu wearing Rei’s cap, Pikachu wearing Akari’s kerchief, Hisuian Qwilfish, Hisuian Sneasel, Lickitung, Rhyhorn, Magmar, Eevee, Togetic, Murkrow, Swinub, Snorunt, Chimchar, Buneary, Snover (all shiny unlocked)

Hisui region Pokémon will only appear during the following hours for both wild encounters and raids:

• Bustling Boardwalk: 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. local time

• Ancient Grove: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. local time

• Toxic Digs: 12-1 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. local time

• Geothermal Lagoon: 1-2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. local time

Raids:

• One-Star: Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup for Bustling Boardwalk and Toxic Digs habitat hours. Rowlet, Cyndaquil, Oshawott for Ancient Grove and Geothermal Lagoon habitat hours (all shiny unlocked)

• Three-Star: Torterra, Infernape, Empoleon for Bustling Boardwalk and Toxic Digs habitat hours (all shiny locked). Hisuian Decidueye, Hisuian Typhlosion, Hisuian Samurott for Ancient Grove and Geothermal Lagoon habitat hours (all shiny unlocked)

• Five- Star: Dialga and Palkia for Bustling Boardwalk and Toxic Digs habitat hours. Origin Forme Dialga and Origin Forme Palkia for Ancient Grove and Geothermal Lagoon habitat hours (all shiny unlocked)

Incense Encounters:

• Bustling Boardwalk and Toxic Digs: Unown H, Unown I, Unown N, Unown O, Unown S (all shiny unlocked)

Ancient Grove and Geothermal Lagoon: Unown H, Unown I, Unown S, Unown U (all shiny unlocked)

Card of the Week

This full art Iron Crown ex from the upcoming Temporal Forces expansion is a neon masterpiece.

Random encounters around the internet

• Twitch plays Pokemon is (surprise, surprise) still playing Pokemon as part of their 10th anniversary event. When last I tuned in, they were on Gen 2 (Gold and Silver running at the same time) and had just run from Lugia in Silver after trolls ruined the battle.

• 💮Grab your Hawaiian shirt: more Pokémon Concierge episodes are in production, release date tbd.

• This dude is making sand sculptures of all the original 151 Pokémon.

• Voltorb, Foongus and Hisuian Voltorb feature in this weekend’s Scarlet & Violet Mass Outbreak Event, running from Thursday, February 22 at 4:00 p.m. PST to Tuesday, February 27 at 3:59 p.m. PST

Obscure Pokémon Fact (from u/Mx_Toniy_4869)

Until next time,
Cooltrainer “more psychic than Sabrina” Ace