Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are the next generation games in the beloved monster-hunting series. These are being developed by none other than Game Freak, the trusted stalwart of mainline Pokemon games.

The Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield released at the end of 2019 gave us the first real taste of open areas in a 3D Pokemon adventure that fans had been wanting for many years. And after the success of the recent Pokemon Legends Arceus entry, Scarlet and Violet continue this trend of giving us an open-world, expansive adventures in the Pokemon series.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is set for a late 2022 release

In February 2022, Nintendo confirmed Scarlet and Violet is releasing worldwide in late 2022. Nintendo's surprise announcement trailer was dropped in at the end of February’s Pokemon Presents direct, and came out earlier than what we’re used to. This tells us they are very confident of the game’s release date.

In June 2022, Nintendo unveiled a launch date trailer, confirming that this combination of Pokemon games will be released on November 18th. With Nintendo waiting until the summer to reveal the date, we can be pretty sure this won't be delayed like many other titles of recent months.

Where to pre-order Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Some retailers have already added a pre-order listing, despite no official date being given yet. So far there are no indications of any pre-order bonuses like the steel book that came with Sword and Shield, but this doesn’t mean we won’t see any.

UK Pokemon Scarlet pre-orders:

UK Pokemon Violet pre-orders:

US Pokemon Scarlet pre-orders:

US Pokemon Violet pre-orders:

Remember that any dates on these pre-orders are placeholders, and should be taken with a grain of salt for now.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's trailer

Nintendo and the Pokemon Company revealed the game's existence at the end of February with a unique and fun trailer capturing so much of what we love about Pokemon.

It's a mixture of live action and in-engine game footage, beginning with an office security guard investigating unusual sounds and lights, before he unknowingly steps into a dusty yet magical art studio. The game footage the trailer cuts to shows the new, colourful environments that players will be able to explore in Scarlet and Violet, with familiar Pokemon rendered in rich, detailed 3D designs.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's gameplay

Right now, Nintendo and Game Freak have yet to detail any characters in the new Generation outside of a look at what the protagonist looks like. The trailer did show off a few spiffy landscapes and welcoming-looking towns, that “blend seamlessly” into the surrounding region - showing off the open-world design that Gen 9 boasts.

Looking at the trailer from the Pokemon Company gives us some ideas of the trends they are working with for this generation. Most notably, there is a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the architecture and wilderness, which is corroborated by the map of Spain that eagle-eyed fans spotted in the trailer - nestled on the corkboard in the real-life office.

It also appears that some mechanics brought into Legends: Arceus are not being carried over. Judging by the footage, battling wild Pokemon is back along with there being two different versions of the game that players will need to trade between to complete the Pokedex. This is yet to be confirmed, however. Like all generational and mainline Pokemon games, the story will likely focus on the development of the protagonist as they embark on their trainer journey, and attempt to catch them all and battle their way to the top.

Speaking of the Pokedex, it seems likely that Scarlet and Violet will feature a regional dex again, instead of having all 900+ ‘Mons packed into the game. So far there are over 50 confirmed Pokemon available in the game, including the three new starter designs. This includes some, if not all, Hisuian forms according to a Hisuian Zoroark being pictured in the background of the official Scarlet and Violet website.

Starter Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet

Game Freak did share Generation 9’s three new starter Pokémon that players can choose from to join them on their journey. They are Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly; following suit with a grass, fire, and water typing between them. As with most starters, these will probably develop a second type as they evolve.

Sprigatito

• ‘The capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon’
• Type: Grass
• Ability: Overgrow

Fuecoco

• ‘The laid-back Fire Croc Pokemon that does things at its own pace’
• Type: Fire
• Ability: Blaze

Quaxly

• ‘The earnest and tidy Duckling Pokemon’
• Type: Water
• Ability: Torrent

All three starters have abilities that boost the power of their type-specific moves if their health is low, which will be very handy for trainers just starting out on their Pokemon journey.

Scarlet and Violet compatibility with Pokemon HOME

Not too much is known about the connectivity between Pokemon HOME and Scarlet and Violet, though it has been confirmed on the games' official Japanese site that there will be compatibility.

However - there is some fine print that states "limited to the Pokemon that appear in each software", meaning not every single Mon can be transferred into the new Generation. At this time there is no confirmation as to which this might be.

While the wait for Scarlet and Violet now begins, it's a great time to check out Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. There's also the recent Pokemon Legends Arceus, which was released to great critical acclaim. And if you're on the hunt for anything else Switch related, check out our Nintendo gift guide, which is updated with deals on the latest games and accessories for all things Switch.