In 2004, an MMO set in the Pokémon universe was in development, and according to a leak, it sounds quite interesting. We explain what we could have almost played.
What kind of game was it? According to a larger leak of Nintendo data, a Pokémon MMO was planned that would be based on the “FireRed” and “LeafGreen” editions from 2004.
In the game, you would be able to connect and interact online with other trainers. Trading, chatting, and of course battles would have been possible. Even large online tournaments were planned.
- Story and map design based on FireRed and LeafGreen
- Offline play on the GBA
- Online play with trading, battling, and chatting
- In offline mode, players would only have access to 36 Pokémon
- New breeding system that would use server information like date, time, and weather to determine the egg players would receive. The new breeding system would only be available online
- Expanded Pokémon Center
- The Pokémon distributed on the map would change every time players logged in, based on server data such as weather, time, region, and season
- Online tournaments based on Colosseum using 3D renderings of monsters
- Weather changes specifically related to the region
What would have been special about the game? The control method was planned to be something very special. It would have been possible to connect a Game Boy Advance to the PC and use it as a controller.
Additionally, the offline version of the Pokémon MMO was supposed to run on the GBA.
Who would have developed the MMO? The developer was the Chinese studio iQue, Ltd., which was responsible for titles like Super Mario Advance and Wario Land 4. Nintendo would have published the game.
Why was it canceled? The leak does not reveal why Nintendo decided not to release the Pokémon MMO.
Interestingly, some of the features of the game can now be found in Pokémon Sword and Shield. This includes the ability to trade online with players and participate in Raid Battles. Furthermore, weather data from the internet is incorporated into the game. So at least a few ideas from the MMO made it into another game.
Would you have liked to play a real Pokémon MMO? What should such a game look like for you?
You love Pokémon and enjoy playing Pokémon GO? If you have some issues with certain terms, you should check out the MeinMMO article “16 terms only true “Pokémon GO” trainers understand – Do you know them all?”
