Despite its technical shortcomings, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet marks a bold new step for the Pokemon franchise, truly pushing the boundaries of what a Pokemon game can be. From a wealth of new Pokemon designs, to an expansive open-world, to a departure from linear progression, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet bring a lot to the table, and fans are desperate to get even more.
The mainline Pokemon series has followed essentially the same formula for the last 27 years, with two iterations of the same game releasing, occasionally followed by a "complete" iteration about a year later, or two sequels. However, Generation 8's games, Pokemon Sword and Shield, introduced a new step for the franchise: DLC. Now fans are hoping that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will get its own set of DLC expansions.
What Pokemon Sword and Shield's DLC Could Mean for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's
Pokemon Sword and Shield's DLC Expansion Pass was first announced on January 9, 2020, just a few months after the games' initial launch. Launched in two waves, Pokemon Sword and Shield's DLC packs were titled The Isle of Armor, and The Crown Tundra. Each of these DLC packs added a brand new area to the game that built on the existing land mass of the Galar region. Each DLC provided its own story, with its own set of unique characters, and its own set of additional Pokemon including some new legendaries.
If Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC is in fact in the works, then fans can probably expect a similar experience to those found in The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. Eagle-eyed fans will have spotted that some areas of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's map are still grayed out long after the credits roll, and certain areas like Area Zero's elevator are inaccessible. This has led some fans to believe that future DLC will unlock these areas, along with some new story quests and new Pokemon. Fans also expect to see the game's third legendary Pokemon, which is only briefly mentioned in an in-game book.
With Pokemon Sword and Shield's DLC announcement coming in January, it wouldn't be out of the realm of reason to expect a DLC announcement for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet sometime soon, as the Gen 8 games also launched in a similar window. Many fans are expecting to see a Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC announcement on Pokemon Day, which is February 27, the day that Pokemon was first launched back in 1996. This would make a lot of sense, especially with Pokemon's absence at the recent Nintendo Direct.
Another big part of the current speculation is determining when exactly Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's rumored DLC will eventually launch. Pokemon Sword and Shield's first DLC released on June 17, 2020, just five months after its announcement, while the second DLC launched on October 23, 2020, nine months after being announced. So, if the same timeframe was applied to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's hypothetical DLC, and it was first announced at the end of February, then fans could see DLC as early as July.
Though, it should be noted that nothing official has been confirmed so far, not even the notion that DLC will even be coming to the game, so fans should take speculation with a pretty big pinch of salt. That being said, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was a particularly successful release for the franchise, and it only makes sense to keep making content for it.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.