Nintendo is building towards one of its biggest moments of the Nintendo Switch era. The next few months are about to give fans some of the most highly-anticipated Nintendo games in a long time, along with some surprise releases that could define where the company goes in the future.Pokemon Legends: Arceusis one such game that took fans by surprise when it was announced earlier this year, withitsBreath of the Wildinspired take on thePokemonformula. Although there hasn’t been any updates since its first trailer, it’s quickly become one of the most anticipated Nintendo releases for next year.
Along with its convention-breaking gameplay mechanics,Pokemon Legends: Arceusseems to suggest that thePokemonfranchise might start going in a different direction based on its title alone. It’s become common knowledge among thePokemonfanbase that each game is built on its respective subtitle, and the specific titling ofPokemon Legends: Arceuscould suggest that the game is going to launch a whole new subfranchise ofPokemongames. It would certainly be an ambitious move for Game Freak, The Pokemon Company, and Nintendo, but it could revolutionize thePokemonfranchise as gamers know it.
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Pokemon’s History Of Spin-Offs
ThePokemonfranchise is no secret to spin-offs, as there have been dozens of games over its long history that have diverted from the core series. While some of these games have had their share of successes, there seems to be one major issue that plagues mostPokemonspin-offs: a lack of support.
One of the biggest indications of this can be seen withPokemon Snap.The original game came out more than twenty years ago, and fans were left clamoring for a sequel for what felt like ages. Between all of the otherPokemonspin-offs that came out afterwards, fans still wanted anotherPokemon Snap, but Nintendo never so much as entertained the idea when it had plenty of opportunities to do so. It ended up taking untilNew Pokemon Snapreleased earlier this year for the wishes of fans to be answered, but even still it demonstrated just how much Nintendo struggles at supportingPokemonspin-offs.
The one shining example that gives hope toPokemon Legends: Arceusbecoming its own subfranchise can be found in thePokemon Mystery Dungeonseries. So far it is the longest runningPokemonseries outside of the core games, and it even got some renewed support in the form of a remake that released on the Switch last year. This, along with the revival ofPokemon Snapcould be an indication that Nintendo is prepared to finally support a consolePokemonspin-off and make it into its own major subfranchise. It would certainly be a long time coming, butthe ambition ofPokemon Legends: Arceusalready makes the wait look worth it.
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The Set Up For A Whole New Pokemon Series
When it comes to whether or notPokemon Legends: Arceuswill spawn its own subfranchise, there’s almost too much potential for it not to happen. Most of the groundwork is already laid, down to the game’s title and structure. Breaking down the name of the game, it would appear that it’s going to focus on legendary Pokemon much more than previous titles, potentially giving context to their origins. Arceus appears to be the obvious focus of this game, but the title also opens itself up to other legendary Pokemon getting the spotlight in potential sequels. For example, if another game were to tacklethe Johto region, it could adopt the title, “Pokemon Legends: Lugia”.
On the topic of other regions,Pokemon Legends: Arceusalso sets up expectations for aPokemonadventure that lets players experience the lore that’s been set up in previous games. It’s already been confirmed thatLegends: Arceuswill have players fill out Sinnoh’s very first Pokedex, and the open fields in the first trailer show that civilization hasn’t reached the whole region. The same could be done for just about every major region of the corePokemongames, giving longtime players a chance to reconnect with their favorites in a whole new way. It creates a lot of potential for fresh storytelling, while also harkening back to the nostalgia ofthe classicPokemongames.
In addition to hints from the title,Pokemon Legends: Arceussimply looks like too big of a game for it to be a one-and-done situation. The game takes obvious inspirations from much ofwhat madeBreath of the Wildsuccessful, introducing loads of new game mechanics that have never been seen before in aPokemongame. It would frankly be a bit of a waste if the team at Game Freak went through all of this trouble to make a uniquePokemonexperience, just for it to be a one-off kind of game. Luckily, the anticipation for the game already appears to be pretty high, so hopefully that won’t be the case.
ThePokemonseries has undergone some growing pains due to what’s been viewed as a lack of evolution in the eyes of some fans, butPokemon Legends: Arceuscould put those concerns to rest. The game already appears to be taking a lot of risks with thePokemonformula, but it could just be exactly what the franchise needs. With the groundwork seemingly laid for this to be the first part of an all-new series,Pokemon Legendscould become the go-to destination for fans looking for a more expansivePokemonexperience, while the core games maintain what the franchise is built on.
Pokemon Legends: Arceuslaunches July 16, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
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