MeinMMO Editor-in-Chief Leya Jankowski is convinced: After Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, we will name the next main installment of the series an MMO. Because with the new multiplayer and systems borrowed from Pokémon GO, we are almost there.
I’ve dreamed for a long time of an MMO set in the Pokémon universe. I was born in 1990. This makes Pokémon the game of my childhood and has accompanied me for 25 years now. On Friday, November 18, 2022, the release of Scarlet/Violet and thus the 9th generation will happen.
The social aspects of an MMO make the genre so special and unique. This point has always been one of the most important components of Pokémon’s DNA. With the first editions Red/Blue, it was already possible in 1996 to connect your Gameboy via link cable and battle against others or trade your pocket monsters.
With slow steps, the franchise gradually developed more towards an MMO. With the internet, it became possible at some point to battle and trade with people all over the world. Markets evolved to obtain Pokémon with desirable stats or to catch rare eggs and shiny Pokémon – these are Pokémon that have a special coloration.
Somehow GameFreak, the studio behind the main installments, never managed to create a proper MMO.
Not even with the jump from pure handheld consoles like the Nintendo 3DS to the Nintendo Switch. The first Pokémon game here was Let’s GO. A clever move to reach the “Pokémon GO” fans:
Pokémon GO as the first MMO of the franchise
The first and only MMO that has existed in the entire franchise so far is the incredibly successful Pokémon GO. Within 5 years, the mobile game was able to generate 5 billion dollars (via Sensor Tower).
The game offers among other things:
- Raids against legendary Pokémon, which are possible with multiple people in co-op
- Especially difficult boss opponents with Team Rocket
- PvP, i.e., battles against others
- Quests and field research
- Weekly rewards
All of this happens outside in an “open world”, where you can go anywhere at any time, with the most realistic graphics you’ve ever seen. Unless you’re under 18 and have to be home before dark.
The social aspects are immensely large in Pokémon GO. I know some people who regularly walk around the block with fixed groups to spin PokéStops and raid.
The CEO of The Pokémon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, spoke in 2017 about the impact Pokémon GO will have on the future of the franchise. They were surprised by the success of Niantic’s mobile game back then.
We are only beginning to feel this influence now with the new main installments Scarlet/Violet.
Scarlet/Violet slowly starts to harness the power of Pokémon
The appeal of Pokémon has always been based on a strong community that bonds with the monsters. The idea of venturing out into the world, making friends, and experiencing adventures with Pokémon is what defines the core of Pokémon.
So far, however, fan passion has primarily taken place outside the games. The first step towards a shared experience was taken by the last generation with Sword and Shield. Here, co-op raids were introduced in the main installments in 2019. It was also possible to camp and chill with others here.
The most important innovation coming with Scarlet/Violet: An open game world with a minimap that can be freely explored in co-op with four players.
In a video, we show you what the multiplayer has to offer:
This time there is no fixed route on how you must march through the map. There are only three unlockable main missions you can follow. Otherwise, you can go to any region you want at any time.
You can take photos together with a new photo mode. There will also be picnics to hang out with your group again.
Throughout the game world, you will find tera raids, where you battle particularly strong Pokémon in instances.
There will also be time-limited raids with the spotlight hours to catch special Pokémon. The first tera raid event “Eevee in the Spotlight” is from Friday, November 25, to Sunday, November 27.
But unfortunately, that’s all there is.
The development towards an MMO is here, but it’s slow
Since Pokémon is a thing on the Nintendo Switch, I think: Now we really need to get an MMO, at least in the scaling that exists in something like Monster Hunter World.
The development since the Switch shows that with each generation, we’re now moving a bit further in the MMO direction. Especially the instanced raids and now the co-op explored open world are a big step for Pokémon standards.
The level of a Temtem is not yet reached. Just the immense success of Pokémon GO will push The Pokémon Company more in this direction. However, at the developer studio GameFreak, things are progressing slowly regarding modernization – but they are progressing.
What is still missing for me to call Pokémon an MMO are quests for which you gain a shared progress or PvP double battles in the open game world. A larger hub area where you can see and interact with multiple trainers all together.
But I am willing to bet that GameFreak is currently working on such features for the next main installment. It really is just one step closer to having a Pokémon MMO – if we don’t get that in the next main installment, I’ll probably start pulling my hair out.
The MMO potential of Pokémon has already been lying around for too long.
