Pokemon Missing Piece

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29 years ago, I was just a pixelated creature on a Game Boy screen, but now, as I celebrate yet another anniversary, I’ve grown into a full-fledged world that millions explore daily. From those early monochrome days to the vibrant landscapes of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, I’ve come a long way. It’s hard to believe that what started as a small gaming IP has now become one of the giants in the industry, with countless releases and an enormous collection of creatures to catch across spin-offs and mainline titles. Here’s to many more years of adventure!

For some gamers, the increasing variety of pocket monsters in the series over the past few years might have been a deterrent rather than an attraction. What was once a fun and catchy “gotta catch ’em all” motto has morphed into a daunting task, but tools like Pokemon Home make it easier for fans to collect, store, and manage their creatures. However, as Pokemon has grown and evolved, there seems to be an untapped opportunity. Although it’s understandable to point out the issue with Pokemon Bank limiting access to creatures from Generations 3 through 7, there are viable alternatives that are being overlooked. Even though Nintendo Switch Online can accommodate the games that started it all, Pokemon is yet to join the service.

Nintendo’s Lack of Pokemon on Nintendo Switch Online’s Retro Games Feels Bizarre

Pokemon Was Almost Expected for Nintendo Switch Online the Moment it Was Possible

Back in 2023, Nintendo Switch Online enthusiasts like myself were thrilled when we heard about the addition of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games to our subscription service. Titles such as Pokemon Red and Blue, along with Ruby and Sapphire, seemed like a perfect fit for this expansion. However, to my surprise, two years later, these mainline Pokemon titles are yet to be added to the service. This is particularly puzzling given that the 3DS’s Virtual Console allowed players to access Red, Blue, and Yellow versions of Pokemon. To make things even more intriguing, Nintendo had released special editions of the 3DS handhelds featuring Red Versions and Blue Versions, which came with codes to download the chosen title from the eShop. I can’t help but wonder why these iconic games are still missing from the Switch Online service.

There seems to be an intriguing link between the re-release of the original games on the 3DS platform and their absence from Nintendo Switch Online. This is because the first Pokemon games were added to the 3DS system quite late in its lifespan, being released in February 2016 as a celebration for Pokemon’s anniversary. The 3DS was officially discontinued four years later in 2020. Currently, the Nintendo Switch lacks the mainline Pokemon games that it could potentially offer, but given that the Switch 2’s lifecycle is starting, there were already two years for Nintendo to bring the nine mainline Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games onto Nintendo Switch Online. As time passes, the chances for these games to appear on the Switch are decreasing.

Despite the fact that the Switch 2 might include NSO’s library at launch, it doesn’t lessen the mystery surrounding their absence. There could be some complications preventing the primary line of Pokemon games from joining the service, such as how they might affect Pokemon Home, and considering how long it took for compatibility between Home and the new Pokemon Scarlet and Violet to be established, this could very well be the case. However, one possible advantage is that classic Pokemon games from Red and Blue up to Emerald could potentially be saved for the Switch 2’s potential DS integration. Here’s hoping these vintage games will become available again soon, and perhaps their release announcement will come on an earlier Pokemon Day instead of a later one.

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2025-02-26 01:28