Since Pokemon Scarlet and Violet came hot off the heels of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and with recent datamining confirming fans' suspicions that the latter would eventually factor into Gen 9, it's become clear that there were underlying clues that pointed to Hisuian DLC would come to Paldea. After the success of the spin-off that radically reshaped players' expectations of future Pokemon games, many were anticipating that the following Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games would in some way pay tribute to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. But while Hisuian regional variants will eventually arrive in Paldea, there could be bigger DLC plans at work.
The potential for DLC in Scarlet and Violet is substantial, with many players sharing theories about a grayed-out upper-right portion of Paldea's map being a possible land bridge to Kalos last seen in Pokemon X and Y. Despite this, recent datamines have revealed that Hisuian regional variants were in Scarlet and Violet's code, which turned speculation onto how these supposedly-extinct Pokemon would return to the present day. But just as the Hisuian Pokemon had been hidden in the base game, so too are there hints as to how Game Freak could have already set up possible Hisuian DLC.
Early Signs Pointed Towards Hisui
As a follow-up in open-world design to Legends: Arceus, players had been anticipating that Scarlet and Violet would take cues from its predecessor to both inform its own design and pay tribute for the groundwork it established. Though there's been a mixed response to the changes made between these games, fans did at least spot and appreciate the hidden references to Legends: Arceus' Professor Laventon and the Hisuian Pokeball. But while players needed to go out of their way and attend academy classes to find this Easter egg, it was the first explicit sign that Game Freak was conscious of reintroducing Legends: Arceus to Gen 9.
From here, it's possible to start identifying and piecing together other clues that Hisui was already planned as additional content for Scarlet and Violet. For instance, almost every single Pokemon that received regional variants and evolutions in Legends: Arceus was included within the Paldean Pokedex, none of which were made to be version exclusives. This was likely the earliest indication behind-the-scenes that Game Freak was planning to add Hisuian Pokemon at a later date, as it circumvented the need to introduce the original forms alongside their Hisuian counterparts. The only remaining obstacle was canon and how Hisui could be asynchronously brought to Paldea.
The Way Home For Hisui
Whether this was intentional or just a happy accident, Scarlet and Violet's endgame storyline "The Way Home" and the canon it introduced provide all the groundwork needed to bring Hisui to the present day. For as much as Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon were anomalies out of time, so too would Hisuian Pokemon be, meaning that they too could arrive the same way that these other ancient and future forms did: via Area Zero's time machine. Though some adjustments would be needed since Pokemon Violet's time machine went to the future and not the past, it's the perfect entry point for Hisuian DLC.
Therefore, Hisuian DLC could be introduced to Scarlet and Violet via Area Zero instead of something like the would-be Kalos land bridge. As the last area explored in-game and consequently underused save for roaming Paradox Pokemon, using this location as a springboard for DLC would not only give a new use for the area, but it would avoid complicating the main games' original storylines. Moreover, Area Zero is still shrouded in mystery with additional Paradox Pokemon planned for legendary trios and the unknown cause of Terastallization, so adding Hisuian DLC to the mix could provide more depth to Scarlet and Violet's time travel twist.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
