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pokemon scarlet and violet key art/box art Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

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Everything to know about 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet

The ninth generation of 笔辞办é尘辞苍 is coming to Nintendo Switch in November

Nicole Carpenter is a senior reporter specializing in investigative features about labor issues in the game industry, as well as the business and culture of games.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet will be released Nov. 18 on Nintendo Switch. Ahead of that release date, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company is slowly rolling out new information on the ninth-generation 笔辞办é尘辞苍 games, the next in line for the 26-year-old franchise. The first details — including the games’ names — were released on 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Day in February. A second trailer debuted on YouTube in June, before another peek at Scarlet and Violet was published Wednesday.

Since then, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company has been dripping out information through Twitter teases and trailers, showing peeks at new 笔辞办é尘辞苍 and the mysterious Paldean world.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet are now less than a month away, and we’ve learned a lot about the next mainline games in the franchise. There are a ton of new 笔辞办é尘辞苍, region-specific forms, and vast, open-world gameplay, to name a few.

Here’蝉 what The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company has shown so far on 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet. We’ll keep updating this story as new details come out.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet release date

a pokemon trainer standing in front of a house Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

On Wednesday, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company announced that 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet will be released Nov. 18. The games are coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch.

Region name: Paldea

dutch style houses with lots of flowers and a windmill in the background, from pokemon scarlet and violet Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

In August, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company shared the name of 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet’蝉 new region: Paldea. It’蝉 described by The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company as “a land of vast open spaces dotted with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, and mountain ranges.”

The region is centered around a large city called Mesagoza, where players will attend one of two schools: Naranja Academy or Uva Academy, depending on whether they’re playing Scarlet or Violet.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet open-world RPG gameplay

A 笔辞办é尘辞苍 trainer throws a Poké Ball in a mountainous area Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet are described as an “open-world experience,” meaning that players will be able to move freely between wilderness and towns in a way that’蝉 different from past 笔辞办é尘辞苍 games. In Polygon’蝉 Oct. 21 preview, Scarlet and Violet felt like a massive open world that’蝉 full of quests. The gameplay is expected to have elements of traditional 笔辞办é尘辞苍 games, with, perhaps, more influence from 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Sword and Shield’蝉 Wild Area and 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Legends: Arceus’ partially open-world experience.

The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company says that the world will be “free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story.” Still, there is a journey for 笔辞办é尘辞苍 trainers to embark on, but it’蝉 one that sounds more varied than in the past: “Meet a variety of people and 笔辞办é尘辞苍, and adventure in the world of 笔辞办é尘辞苍 the way you want to,” The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company says on the 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet website.

In August, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company described how players will be able “weave” a story however they want after enrolling in one of the two academies. The schools require an independent study called The Treasure Hunt, which is how players can access the three “grand stories” in Scarlet and Violet. The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company first described one of those stories so far, the one that’蝉 likely most traditional and familiar to 笔辞办é尘辞苍 fans — traveling between eight gyms to become a 笔辞办é尘辞苍 champion and taking on Victory Road.

In early September, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company shared new details on the other two — Path of Legends and Starfall Street. Path of Legends is a quest line that takes trainers out in search of an ingredient called Herba Mystica with an upperclassman called Arven.

Starfall Street is where you’ll take on the game’蝉 villains, Team Star. They’re the bad kids at school.

When exploring the Paldea region, trainers can have a 笔辞办é尘辞苍 out and walking with them. There’蝉 also the “Let’蝉 Go!” feature which lets trainers send out 笔辞办é尘辞苍 to collect stuff and automatically start battling with close 笔辞办é尘辞苍.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet multiplayer experience

four pokemon trainers running off in different directions Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company says players can expect “multiplayer gameplay with up to four players.” Trading and battling are one part of that experience, but the big change is in exploration: “You will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players,” the company wrote on the 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet website.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet will have local wireless play for two to four players, with online multiplayer available for one to four players. This is through a feature called the Union Circle, where players can meet up and “adventure together in the same space.”

It’蝉 unclear how extensive the multiplayer experience will be, but it’蝉 clear that The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company has been leading into a more in-depth multiplayer experience following 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Sword and Shield.

There’蝉 also trading and battling, as The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company outlined in August. Using the Poké Portal, there are trades with friends and surprise trades, as well as battle functionality.

Scarlet and Violet starter 笔辞办é尘辞苍

Sprigatito (a green weed cat), Quaxly (a blue duck with a funny hair style), Fuecoco (a small, red gator). Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet’蝉 three starter 笔辞办é尘辞苍 are Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Like in previous games, 笔辞办é尘辞苍 players will start their game with one of these three 笔辞办é尘辞苍. Sprigatito is a “capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat 笔辞办é尘辞苍” that can conduct photosynthesis; Fuecoco is a “laid-back Fire Croc 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that does things at its own pace” and spouts flames; and Quaxly is an “earnest and tidy Duckling 笔辞办é尘辞苍” who is particular about keeping its hair clean.

We still don’t know what these three starters will evolve into, however.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet new Professors and rival

Professor Turo and Professor Sada in 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Violet Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

For the first time, players will get a different professor depending on which game they buy: Players that choose 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet will get Professor Sada, while 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Violet players will have Professor Turo. Each of these professors is doing their own research “into lore passed down in the region,” according to The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company. Their names are a reference to their research, too: Sada and Turo are references to past and future, respectively, and explain their outfits. This plays into the names of the legendary 笔辞办é尘辞苍, too, which contain the words “korai” and “mirai,” for “ancient” and “future.”

It’蝉 not immediately clear how or if the professor choice will impact gameplay much.

As for the 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet rival, that’蝉 Nemona. She’蝉 not explicitly labeled as a rival; instead, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company calls her “a friend and reliable guide” who is an “experienced 笔辞办é尘辞苍 trainer,” which seems to serve a similar purpose as the rival.

Beyond these two professors, there’蝉 also Clavell, the academy director, and Mr. Jacq, the biology and homeroom teacher.

Other new 笔辞办é尘辞苍 in Scarlet and Violet

an image of Cetitan in 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

Nemona, in particular, helped introduce three of 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet’蝉 new monsters in June: Pawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv. Pawmi is an electric mouse that generates electricity by rubbing its cheeks, while Lechonk is a a perfect, normal-type hog 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that loves berries. Smoliv is described, naturally, as an olive 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that has a very worried face. Then there’蝉 Fidough, a yeasty 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that’蝉 essentially a few bagels put together; Cetitan, a muscular 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that’蝉 designed for snowy regions.

But wait, there’蝉 more: Paldean Wooper, which is a special version of Wooper found only in Paldea, as well as a poisonous primate with a weirdly long finger, Grafaiai; a cute (and sometimes large) crab, Klawf; and two version-specific knights, Armarouge and Ceruledge.

There’蝉 also Cyclizar, which is a mount 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that can be ridden like a bike. It looks suspiciously similar to Scarlet and Violet’蝉 two legendary 笔辞办é尘辞苍, but The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company hasn’t confirmed if they’re related in any way. Scarlet and Violet’蝉 two Legendary 笔辞办é尘辞苍, Koraidon and Miraidon, are version-specific 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that’蝉 also a vehicle.

Here’蝉 a full list of the new 笔辞办é尘辞苍:

Koraidon and Miraidon

Two 笔辞办é尘辞苍 trainers ride Koraidon and Miraidon, with Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly in between them, in artwork from 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet Image: Game Freak/The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company, Nintendo

Alongside the new regular little guys, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company shared new forms for the new Legendary 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Koraidon and Miraidon. These 笔辞办é尘辞苍 are vaguely serpentine and match the respective colors for their game — 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet has scarlet-hued Koraidon and 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Violet has the purple Miraidon. Koraidon looks to be a bit more historical and natural, while Miraidon feels futuristic, perhaps mimicking the looks of the two new professors.

In August, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company revealed that these two 笔辞办é尘辞苍 are a core part of Scarlet and Violet — they can be ridden like motorcycles that work on land, sea, and in the sky. Here’蝉 how the three modes work, straight from The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company:

  • Sprinting Build / Drive Mode: Players can ride Sprinting Build Koraidon or Drive Mode Miraidon, making it easier to traverse the expansive Paldea region more freely.
  • Swimming Build / Aquatic Mode: Players will be able to jump into rivers, lakes and vibrant oceans to approach the 笔辞办é尘辞苍 that live there or cross perilous waters in a snap by riding Swimming Build Koraidon or Aquatic Mode Miraidon.
  • Gliding Build / Glide Mode: Players can jump from mountains, towering cliffs or tall buildings and glide toward their destination.

Koraidon and Miraidon don’t seem like regular Legendary 笔辞办é尘辞苍 — you usually pick those up pretty far into 笔辞办é尘辞苍 games. But in Polygon’蝉 October preview, we learned that you do get these pretty early on, as their essential for travel. No word yet if they’ll be usable in battle, however.

Picnics

a ham sandwich on a table, surrounded by ingredients, with an eevee pick holding it together Image: Game Freak/The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company, Nintendo

In 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Sword and Shield, there were camps. In Scarlet and Violet, there are picnics. The picnic areas serve the same function as camps — there’蝉 a space to play with, feed, and bathe your 笔辞办é尘辞苍. Once you’ve started a picnic, your group of creatures will gather around the space. You make make sandwiches using purchased and found resources, piling toppings high in a little minigame. These will restore HP for 笔辞办é尘辞苍, or add different effects.

Elsewhere in the picnic space, you can bathe your dirty 笔辞办é尘辞苍 to restore HP and make ‘em like you a bit more. There will be toys to play with, too — the trailer in Scarlet and Violet’蝉 Oct. 6 trailer showed a soccer ball to kick around.

If you’re playing with friends using the Union Circle, you can join your pal’蝉 picnic, too.

Terastal 笔辞办é尘辞苍 and Tera Raid Battles

terastal fuecoco — it looks like a shining gemstone Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

The Terastal Phenomenon looks like it replaces Gigantamax 笔辞办é尘辞苍 in 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet. Instead of getting huge, 笔辞办é尘辞苍 in the Paldea region turn into gemstones with jewel crowns that can change their types. Basically, with a Tera Orb, players can transform 笔辞办é尘辞苍 once per battle to “enhance their battle strategies by increasing the power of any moves that have the same type of their 笔辞办é尘辞苍’蝉 Tera Type,” The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company said.

There are 18 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Tera Types in total, the company said.

The second part of the Terastal Phenomenon is Tera Raid Battles, which seem to work like Max Raid Battles. With friends or alone, players can battle and catch wild Terastal 笔辞办é尘辞苍.

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet pre-order details

two-pack pokemon scarlet and violet box Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company

笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet are available for pre-order now at the Nintendo Store. Both cost $59.99 and will allow players to preload the game closer to its Nov. 18 release date. The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company is offering a special Pikachu as a preorder bonus, as well as an Adventure Set for digital purchasers — adding potions, heals, and other in-game items as extras.

There’蝉 also the double pack, which includes both versions of the game. Players who buy this will get two codes — one per game — and 100 Poké Balls for each code. The double pack costs $120.

New 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet Nintendo Switch

An image of the Nintendo Switch Scarlett and Violet edition, including the new OLED screen. The controllers are red (left) and purple (right) mirroring the two marquee Pokemon on the cover. Image: The 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Company, Nintendo

Nintendo will release a special edition Nintendo Switch OLED model that’蝉 all decked out in 笔辞办é尘辞苍 Scarlet and Violet art. It’蝉 out on Nov. 4 and costs $359.99 — it doesn’t include either game.

Shopping

Pre-order a big $200 Pikachu now, thank yourself later

Shopping

Target has knocked over $100 off the 笔辞办é尘辞苍 TCG Classic set

Shopping

Where to pre-order the 笔辞办é尘辞苍 TCG: Scarlet and Violet — Twilight Masquerade sets

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