The next update for Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet is planned for release relatively soon, according to Nintendo and Game Freak. The latest release in the main series of Pokemon has now been available on Nintendo Switch for a couple of months, but to say it still has some technical issues would be an understatement. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players are anxiously awaiting another update, hopeful that Game Freak will address their continued frustrations.Update 1.1 for both Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was released in early December 2022 and despite initial confusion largely did not address the many technical issues found in the RPGs. The update instead focused on a major feature addition for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the start of Ranked Battles Season 1. The patch did address certain other bug fixes, but nothing substantial. Pokemon fans have been left waiting for the next update since then.RELATED: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Third Seven Star Raid Event is Coming SoonIt's now confirmed that the next substantial update for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be arriving in late February. Waiting another month and a half for an update certainly isn't optimal, but at least Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players now have a date to focus on. The content of the 1.2 update is described as bug fixes and "added functionality." No further information was provided, leaving the functionality cited as a mystery. No mention of changes to address performance problems was made.

A comparison to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's 1.1 update can easily be made, going off what's been shared regarding patch 1.2. Bug fixes and functionality accurately describes the handful of improvements and Ranked Battles update from early December 2022 that left fans disappointed with Game Freak's efforts. If patch 1.2 is similarly lacking, only three months later, it's possible that a larger controversy could inflame.

The problem is that Game Freak has never been known as a fast-acting game developer, in part because its games have historically been quite polished and without then need of follow-up updates. The shift to 3D Pokemon games, as well as support for post-launch expansions and DLC, has changed things, though. Game Freak may not be ready to a live-service environment for Pokemon.

It bears repeating that virtually nothing is known about patch 1.2 for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet yet. It's possible that it will deliver the technical improvements Pokemon fans believe Pokemon Scarlet and Violet desperately need. If not, there's going to be a necessary conversation regarding Pokemon's future at the end of February.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now on Nintendo Switch.

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