Due to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's imminent release, it comes as no surprise that retail copies of the game have leaked online. This has become the norm for blockbuster games in general, but new Pokemon releases are especially prone to pre-release leaks. As fans clamor to see what new Pokemon will make their debut, a wave of reactions—some favorable and others not—are the result of built-in expectations for this massive media franchise. Reactions to the latest round of leaks for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are already pouring in and bear a striking resemblance to the reactions fans have had to pre-release leaks over the past decade of Pokemon games.
Leaks in general tend to be controversial because it can ruin the fun of experiencing a piece of media for the first time. While that is still the case with Pokemon, leaks for this series are harmful because they offer fans a misleading first look at new monsters. Blurry screenshots, tiny menu sprites, and other low-quality images acting as the community's first look at a new Pokemon can sour first impressions with a less-than-flattering view of its design. Considering how critical many players have become of the Pokemon franchise in recent years, this trend has only served to create more controversy surrounding a new game's release and has been the standard since Pokemon moved into the 3D era.
X and Y's Starter Leaks Made a Popular Pokemon Look Unappealing
2013 saw the release of Pokemon's first foray into the 3D space with Pokemon X and Y. The lead-up to its release on the Nintendo 3DS was filled with speculation as the new mechanic of Mega Evolution had fans predicting which of their favorites would receive a Mega form. The most anticipated reveal, however, was the designs for the final evolutions of the three starter Pokemon. As the release date of October 12 approached, new images began making the rounds online as the street date had apparently been broken by several retailers and a few people had their hands on copies of the game. Given that there was no widely available way to capture and share screenshots on the 3DS, images from the game came in the form of blurry phone pictures.
The main content of these images were the final evolution of the starters. This was the first look fans got at Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja. Reactions were generally mixed, although fan expectations were high after the official reveal of the middle stage evolutions. Greninja in particular received backlash as fans did not like the look of its tongue-scarf. It is a shame these were the first images fans saw of these Pokemon as they warped initial impressions of what were otherwise pretty well-designed characters. Ironically, Greninja would go on to become one of the most popular Pokemon ever, making appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series, Pokemon Unite, and other Pokemon spinoff games. It even occasionaly wins official popularity polls put on by The Pokemon Company. This is why it's important not to judge new Pokemon based on unofficial images.
Leaked Concept Art Gave Fans Their First Look at Sun and Moon's Starter Evolutions
Three years after the release of Pokemon X and Y, the 3DS was set to usher in the seventh generation of the series with the release of Pokemon Sun and Moon in November 2016. As early as June 2016, supposed concept art for the final evolution of the starters appeared online. The series is no stranger to fake leaks and fan designs mimicking official artwork, so these images were met with initial skepticism.
However, Ash Ketchum seemed to appear alongside the new trial captain Mallow in the sketches, which seemed to give the leaks more credibility. This led many to believe these images were reference guides for the anime, as they matched similar reference guides for previous generations. Without names, typings, or any other context for these Pokemon, fans began forming opinions that would shape their perception of the games prior to launch.
Many reacted positively to the design for Rowlet's final evolution, which fans now know as Decidueye but fans nicknamed "Robinhoot". The other two received mixed reactions, as the overly feminine design for Popplio's evolution drew criticism from some and praise from others. The most controversial of the bunch was Litten's final evolution. After seeing the wrestler design motifs, fans assumed it would be another Fire/Fighting-type starter—potentially the fourth in the franchise. Annoyance over this possibility and the fact that it looked "too human" fueled fans' disappointment. By the time it was officially revealed that Incineroar would be Fire/Dark-type and not a Fighting-type, many had already made up their minds about the Pokemon.
A Tumultuous Lead Up to Sword and Shield was Capped Off by Leaks
In 2019, Pokemon Sword and Shield would make their debut as the first mainline Pokemon games on a home console. Fans were already forming negative opinions after it was announced that not every Pokemon would be available to be caught or transferred into the games. Coupled with the controversy surrounding the graphical quality of the games, fan criticism was seemingly at an all-time high. The situation was not helped when images of the new Pokemon leaked in the weeks leading up to launch.
Once again, low-res phone camera photos showing the new starter evolutions made their way across the internet. Fans lamented the trend of each starter final evolution having oddly human proportions—with particular criticism towards Sobble's third stage, Intelleon. The images made Intelleon look far too thin and lanky for fans' liking. However, this out-of-context screenshot really did the Pokemon a disservice as its in-game animations showed off its ability to move fluidly and shoot water from its fingers, making it look much cooler than an image would have one believe.
The current Scarlet and Violet leaks are dividing the fan base just as leaks of previous generations have done. It is unfortunate that many Pokemon are judged based on these rough impressions before they have a chance to be seen in context. Hopefully those avoiding leaks will have a better impression when seeing these Pokemon for the first time in-game. As the internet is ravenous for information on popular games, it is unlikely that this trend of pre-release leaks will end anytime soon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet launch November 18, 2022 on the Nintendo Switch.
