Highlights
- A resurfaced image from Pokemon Sword and Shield may suggest the remakes of Pokemon Black and White be called Glistening Black and Sparkling White.
- The inclusion of the option "Original Design," sharing initials with "Original Dragon," adds some weight to the speculation too. in conjunction with the possible Pokemon Black and White remake names.
- It's hard to say for sure how likely this is to be a genuine teaser, but stranger things have happened than Game Freak teasing new titles years in advance.
A recently resurfaced image of Pokemon Sword and Shield is being shared online as fans debate whether or not it teases the official titles for potential Pokemon Black and White remakes. If so, fans can expect these Gen 5 Remakes to be called Pokemon Glistening Black and Sparkling White.
While the accuracy of these titles remains uncertain, it's worth mentioning that they would fit nicely into the pattern of past Pokemon remakes. In general, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company differentiate remakes from their original by adding a modifier to the name; it's as simple as that. FireRed and LeafGreen are not revolutionary names by any means, but they set a precedent for HeartGold and SoulSilver, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The latter indicates that an -ing word is not off the table for Pokemon Black and White.
The community-circulating image (shared by Twitter user SoulSilverArt) shows the Pokemon Sword and Shield main character talking to an NPC about their bike designs, with there being an option called Glistening Black and Sparkling White. Obviously, this lit up the community around Pokemon Sword and Shield's time too, but as there is a lot of speculation on the horizon about the next game and/or the new remakes, it makes sense that this has returned. SoulSilverArt is also correct in that it would be unusual for Game Freak to have such a teaser so many years in advance, but at the same time, stranger things have happened.
The choice after picking one of the designs makes the potential teaser so much more compelling. Once players have chosen one, they get a new option called "Original Design." This particular phrasing feels intentional because it could have been said more simply, but it's hard to ignore that, in conjunction with the Pokemon Black and White reference, "Original Design" shares the same initials as Original Dragon. As many know, the lore of Pokemon Black and White details how Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem were all once one Pokemon, the Original Dragon.
Of course, this could all be a coincidence with no significant bearing on future entries in the franchise, but fans are hopeful. Pokemon Gen 5 is the next one up, logically, for classic remakes, while many fans hope to see a Unova-based Pokemon Legends game too. After all, while remakes aren't likely to delve much deeper into the Original Dragon due to obvious constraints, the Original Dragon could play a huge role in an upcoming Pokemon Legends game, giving fans a closer glimpse at some important lore.
Pokemon Black and White remakes are not confirmed to be in development.