There’s been news regarding how Nintendo, Game Freak and the Pokémon Company are celebrating 2016, the 20th anniversary of the beloved franchise.
We already knew some of the biggest video game additions to the franchise are coming like Pokken Tournament and Pokémon Go but the companies all figure to be have a lot more festive ways to celebrate 20 years of players becoming Pokémon masters.
And the Pokémon Company released an official video showcasing all the goodies that will be released in 2016. Here’s the Pokémon 20th Anniversary highlight video.
There’s a lot shown in the Pokémon 20th Anniversary video so we’ll list all the great stuff that has been officially announced.
MYTHICAL POKEMON GIVEAWAY
The Pokémon Company will be distributing some of the most rare Pokémon in all of the games all year long. Starting in February, a new Mythical Pokémon will be distributed. The list of Mythical Pokémon are listed in the Pokémon website but here’s a shortlist of the distributions and which Pokémon is being given away.
February - Mew
March - Celebi
April - Jirachi
May - Darkrai
June - Manaphy
July - Shaymin
August - Arceus
September - Victini
October - Keldeo
November - Genesect
December - Meloetta
POKEMON RED/BLUE/YELLOW DS BUNDLES
If you follow Pokémon news, then you’ll know that the original trio of Pokémon games are being re-released on the Nintendo eShop in February. However, it was announced in Japan that they will be receiving the Nintendo 2DS for the first time as a bundle with the Pokémon games already downloaded.
But don’t fear, the Pokémon RBY bundles will be coming to Europe and North America in different packages. Europe will be receiving the Nintendo 2DS like Japan but instead of a Green Version, they get the Yellow Version. Europe will also be receiving some cool cover plates. one will have the Super Mystery Dungeon theme while the other -- and personally, superior -- face plate will have the sprites of the Pokémon from the original Red/Green versions.
North America will be getting a Nintendo 3DS bundle for the first time. It’ll come with both Pokémon Red and Blue pre-installed and come with a Charizard and Blastoise cover plate. This special 3DS will also come with a Pokémon theme installed.
POKEMON TCG GENERATIONS/MYTHICAL BOXES
It was revealed that in Japan the original set of the first Pokémon trading card game were to be re-released. There weren’t many details regarding it but it seems the rest of the world will be able to enjoy the original Pokémon TCG.
Pokémon Generations was announced, and it’s being described as a special expansion to the game. Perhaps this is the original set that Japan is getting?
Mythical boxes were also revealed as every month a new Pokémon TCG box that features the mythical Pokémon that is distributed that month will be up for sale.
POKEMON MOVIE REMASTERS
The Pokémon movies are going to be digitally remastered in the Apple Store, Google Play Store and Amazon. Pokémon The First Movie, Pokémon the Movie 2000 and Pokémon the Movie 3 will definitely be released in 2016 but the video seems to suggest that the other movies will also get the remaster treatment.
Along with all of that, the Pokémon Center online store will be stocked with exclusive merchandise and new stuff to buy so keep checking back.
But for now, what are you looking forward to the most in 2016 in the world of Pokémon? Sound off in the comments section.
