Pokemon RPG for Switch Won't Release Until Late 2019

Game Rant

By Jasmine Henry

Published Jul 31, 2018

Nintendo provides an update on the release date for the Pokemon RPG on Nintendo Switch, confirming that fans will have to wait a little longer than expected to play it.

Pokemon players on Nintendo Switch already have lots to look forward to, with Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Pokemon Let's Go Eevee set to release later this year. That's not all though, as another Pokemon RPG for the console is set to release next year. In its latest financial briefing, Nintendo has now shed some more light on exactly when fans can expect to get their hands on it.

After previously stating that the new Pokemon RPG for Nintendo Switch would be released in the "second half of 2019," Nintendo has now confirmed that the game will launch in "late 2019." This narrows down the game's release window quite a bit, with November 2019 being the most likely month of release. Not only do the Pokemon Let's Go games release in November (2018), but the last main Pokemon games, Pokemon Sun and Moon, released in November (2016) too.

Pokemon Nintendo Switch feature wishlist

Some players may be disappointed that the new game won't be released during summer. The original release window of the second half of 2019 had many hopeful that they'd be able to play it as soon as August or even September. It means they'll have to wait just a bit longer to play the first game totally built with the Nintendo Switch in mind, including characters, story, location and more.

But Nintendo will argue that the late 2019 release just makes better business sense. For one, a November release would put the Switch Pokemon RPG on store shelves just as the holiday shopping rush is beginning. It also means that there will be about a year between the new Pokemon RPG and the Pokemon Let's Go titles, which will leave enough time so that people don't feel overwhelmed by Pokemon content. With Pokemon GO and Pokemon Quest also available, there is a risk that people will feel fatigued but by putting a year between major Pokemon titles, Nintendo can help to avoid that.

Plus, it will give the game's development team enough time to ensure that the title has been polished. Earlier this year, Tsunekazu Ishihara, the president and CEO of The Pokemon Company, confirmed that the game would feature "a lot" of new Pokemon. While that's exciting for fans, it also means that there is an added risk of technical issues, or characters just not fitting in the game well and a couple of extra months of development could make all the difference.

Pokemon will launch for Nintendo Switch in late 2019.