This week Nintendo and The Pokémon Company revealed two (or three, technically) new Pokémon titles coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch: Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, and Pokémon Quest. Pokémon Quest is available to download for free right now on the Nintendo eShop. Pokémon Let’s Go will arrive on November 16.
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! bring trainers back to the Kanto region of the very first Pokémon games. They’re developed as 3D remakes of Pokémon Yellow. But the new distinct feature is the connectivity to Pokémon GO.
Thanks to wireless transfer, trainers can instantly transfer their Pokémon back and forth between the hit mobile game and the upcoming Switch title.
As inspired by Pokémon GO, Let’s Go, Pikachu! will feature similar capturing mechanics, where you have to physically throw a ball at found Pokémon.
To support this, Nintendo announced a new Poké Ball Plus controller, also launching November 16. The Poké Ball Plus is a Poké Ball that fits in the palm of your hand, with a single analog stick in the middle. The unique spherical controller includes motion control so you can “throw” it at the screen to capture Pokémon.
Trainers can also store one Pokémon into the Poké Ball, causing it to light up and emit cutesy sounds. Poké Ball Plus will also be fully compatible with Pokémon GO.
Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! will also support local co-op by using Joy-Con or the new Poké Ball Plus.
While fans may be disappointed that this isn’t the big mainline Pokémon Switch RPG we were anticipating, rest assured that game is still in development. Unfortunately it’s not coming until 2019.
As a small consolation, a spin-off game called Pokémon Quest was announced and released this week. Pokémon Quest is a free-to-start action-RPG with a blocky art style (think Minecraft). It takes place in a new region called Tumblecube. Trainers lead a team of three Pokémon as they explore the island and discover new Power Stones that grant increased skills and stats.
Pokémon Quest is available for free right now. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, and the Poké Ball Plus controller will launch November 16.
