With the Nintendo Switch 2’s enhanced performance capabilities, games on Nintendo consoles are expected to be bigger and better than ever, especially in the case of Nintendo exclusives like Pokémon. However, just because a console’s hardware may be capable of supporting more demanding games, it doesn’t necessarily mean developers will be able to take full advantage of it.
With the Switch 2 now serving as the primary console for Pokémon, it’s obvious players will expect to see an overall improvement in new games, especially following the heavy criticism that Pokémon Scarlet & Violet received at release. Unfortunately, whether Game Freak will make such changes to future Pokémon games remains to be seen, but if it does happen, it will likely come at the cost of something else.
Pokémon Struggles On Home Consoles
Quick Turnarounds & High Expectations Are Hard To Juggle For Any Franchise
Despite some of the advancements in game development over the past several years, I think it’s easy for players to forget that creating a game that encompasses a well-crafted story, solid gameplay, and quality graphics can take most studios several years to accomplish.
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Pokémon’s Next Big Game Already Feels Entirely Skippable
I’m concerned about a potential problem in Pokémon Legends: Z-A that may force me to skip the game entirely, as much as I want to play it.
That being said, not every studio is afforded such a luxury, as it seems players have come to expect new Pokémon game releases at least once or twice a year. Despite the Switch’s lifespan being only 8 years, we saw 12 different Pokémon games become available on the console in that time, including new releases and retro re-releases.
While not all of these were necessarily directly developed by Game Freak, it has set an unrealistic expectation for the turnaround time of Pokémon games as a whole, which is why it’s not incredibly surprising that new releases have disappointed players inthe way they have.
The Game Boy and Nintendo DS days offered Pokémon a bit more leniency from players, given that they were seen as handheld consoles with more limitations, but all that has changed completely with the Nintendo Switch. Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to compete with other home consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, expectations for its capabilities and its games have skyrocketed.
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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Prove Game Freak Had No Faith In Legends: Arceus
Game Freak didn’t think that Pokémon Legends: Arceus would be able to succeed without some of the staple Pokémon systems in older games.
Pokémon was never intended to be a home console franchise, and we’re now seeing the consequences of it being adapted for it anyway. While recently struggling to satisfy players as is, Game Freak is being forced to raise a bar it couldn’t reach with Pokémon in the first place, which is only going to result in disappointment for everyone involved.
Switch 2 Pokémon Upgrades Will Probably Have Trade-Offs
Players Will Need To Decide What Matters Most To Them When It Comes To New Releases
To meet player expectations in terms of graphics and performance, Pokémon will ultimately have to make sacrifices elsewhere. Naturally, Pokémon games will inherently run a bit better due to the updated capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2, with the updates to Scarlet & Violet being a prime example of this, but that won’t be enough.
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Pokémon Legends: Z-A Will Make Or Break The Series On Switch 2
Pokémon games on the Nintendo Switch have suffered from performance issues. Will those issues be fixed on the Switch 2? How will Legends: Z-A fair?
Players will still be looking for major graphics and gameplay improvements, neither of which they’re likely to see without increased time between releases. However, players are unlikely to respond well to that, even for the sake of a better game, leaving Game Freak to look at other options.
Game Freak could consider simplifying gameplay to make it easier to produce higher-performing games in a shorter time, but many believe Pokémon has already become too simplistic, which is why Pokémon Legends: Z-A‘s new battle mechanics are so exciting. So, it’s unlikely simplifying the game for the sake of time would go over well either, leaving Game Freak with no inherently good option to make everyone happy.
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I’m Worried That Gen 10 Pokémon Could Make A Huge Mistake On Switch 2
The next mainline Pokémon game is a hugely anticipated game at the moment, but it could risk making a major mistake on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Of course, that’s not to say that the blame falls entirely on players either, as Nintendo and Pokémon are contributing factors to the final result as well. Game Freak recently shared a surprising announcement during an Xbox Showcase, debuting their incredible-looking upcoming title, Beast of Reincarnation. Needless to say, it delivered quite a shock to players who were able to get a glimpse of what Game Freak is capable of when given the appropriate time and resources.
So, regardless of what happens with Pokémon on the Switch 2, it’s clear that Game Freak is capable of achieving the type of game that players want. However, it requires the cooperation of Nintendo, the Pokémon company, and players to make it happen and produce a game worthy of a home console.
