Earlier this week, Pokemon Home launched its 1.4.0 update, adding several fresh features to the cloud-based Pokemon storage app. Players now have the ability to view Pokemon from new angles in the Pokedex, while fresh user icons are available and a "catch calendar" has been implemented, allowing users to note exactly when a pocket monster was added to the app.
To celebrate the array of new features, Nintendo is giving away two free mystery gifts in the form of Pokemon, with both Squirtle and Bulbasaur joining the player's roster as soon as they boot up Pokemon Home's 1.4.0 update. The two iconic starter picks will also have the capability to Gigantamax when added to a Pokemon Sword and Shield save, making them an invaluable asset to any trainer battling their way through the Galar Region. According to the app, both Pokemon will be free to claim until June 30 at 11:59 PM UTC.
Grabbing the two Pokemon is pretty simple provided players have the Pokemon Home app. Once they boot it up, they'll be greeted by a notice telling them they've received two gifts. From there, they'll be able to claim both Squirtle and Bulbasaur, adding them into their box of Pokemon. It's a simple process and one that means players can hop into a Pokemon game of their choosing and begin training their newest recruits.
It appears players will be able to use both Pokemon later this year when Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launch on the Nintendo Switch this Fall. For those who missed the reveal of both games earlier this year, they'll be remakes of the Nintendo DS classics Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, which took place in the Sinnoh region. Although the two new titles haven't been confirmed to support Pokemon Home, it seems likely considering Nintendo has pitched it as a hub that will connect future iterations of the iconic series.
Shortly after Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have had their moment in the spotlight, Pokemon Legends: Arceus will make its debut, with the next mainline gaming looking to be a significant reinvention of the franchise. Trading in the standard turn-based battles of current Pokemon games for a new open-world experience with real-time combat, it's already drawn a lot of comparisons to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Much like that game, it seems players will have the freedom to explore a vast wilderness filled with roaming Pokemon. Fans won't have to wait long to find out whether it's a successful evolution of the franchise, with the game slated to make its way to Nintendo Switch this coming January.
Pokemon Home is out now on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.