Unfortunately for Nintendo, early copies of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have popped up in the wild, and some of those with early copies have started leaking information about the games online. The Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl leaks have in turn revealed some potentially disappointing news about the games, especially for those who consider themselves fans of Pokemon Platinum more than Diamond and Pearl.
According to the leaks, as detailed by CentroLeaks, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are missing content that was introduced in Pokemon Platinum. Apparently all of the trainer teams are based on their Diamond and Pearl versions instead of Platinum, and that goes for the level of the Pokemon on those teams as well. If the leaked information collected by CentroLeaks is accurate, the gym puzzles are based on Diamond and Pearl, Platinum characters are nowhere to be found, and animations are based on Diamond and Pearl sprites.
While some Pokemon fans were hoping for more Pokemon Platinum content to make its way into Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it's worth pointing out that Nintendo never promised that would happen. After all, the games are explicitly remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, not Pokemon Platinum. Then again, past Pokemon game remakes have incorporated new content, and so that could be why fans were hoping for more when it comes to Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Some Pokemon fans were hoping to see Pokemon Platinum get more representation in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but others were hoping for brand new content. However, the leaks indicate that there are no new Pokemon, characters, events, or anything else in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, or if there is, they haven't been discovered yet. The leaks also indicate that Pokemon Mega Evolutions aren't in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl either.
This will no doubt be disappointing news to some Pokemon fans, but there is still some hope that the games could introduce a new Pokemon down the line. Some marketing material suggests that a new mythical Pokemon could be coming to Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, though it's possible that fans are looking a bit too much into that theory. For now, no one should go into the games expecting any substantial new content.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have a new art style and should help modernize the Diamond and Pearl experience. This will be enough for some Pokemon fans, but those who want something fresher only have to wait a couple of months for the launch of Pokemon Legends: Arceus in January.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launch November 19, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.