With the initial fervor from the new Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trailer slowly calming down, it's an excellent time to recollect what fans now know for sure, what's yet to be confirmed, and if current rumors and speculation still fit. In particular, thanks to the trailers, fans have been able to pick out and collate a list of all Pokemon that are set to appear in Scarlet and Violet, both old and new. It's nowhere near complete, of course, but there's one missing Pokemon worth wondering about.
Rotom has yet to appear in any of the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trailers, which wouldn't be too much of a big deal except that, since Pokemon Sun and Moon, Rotom has strangely become one of the game's most vital Pokemon. With the introduction of the Rotom Pokedex followed by the Rotom Bike, Rotom's current absence could be a sign that new things are yet to come, or on the other hand, Game Freak could be deciding that Rotom has had its day for just a little too long. Of the two, the former seems more likely and is incredibly enticing.
Rotom: From Pokemon to Pokedex
Introduced in Diamond and Pearl, Rotom really broke the mold as a first for the series. Not only was it the first and only (to date) Electric/Ghost-type Pokemon of its kind, but even in the later release of Platinum, Rotom was given five other new forms based on household appliances. It wasn't until Sun and Moon though that Rotom's seemingly inherent ability to "possess" electronic equipment was utilized in ways beyond traditional Pokemon design. The introduction of the Rotom Pokedex as the region's official Pokedex set a brand-new standard for the series and served as an umbrella explanation to various mechanics from providing the player hints or the town map. Even in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Game Freak went above and beyond by giving the Rotom Pokedex a greater personality and more varied functionality, overall treating it as a character in its own right.
With Sword and Shield, it was clear Game Freak had a high bar to clear. The Pokedex was ditched in favor of a smartphone design, similarly possessed by Rotom and dubbed the "Rotom Phone", and encompassed all the previous functionality with a more contemporary twist. However, Game Freak didn't stop there and also introduced the Rotom Bike which would serve as Sword and Shield's main mode of transportation across the world, reducing Rotom's role from less of a character to more of a stand-in for any abstract functionality the developer needs.
Where In The World Is Rotom?
It's bizarre then that Rotom hasn't yet featured in any of Scarlet and Violet's trailers, as for two generations of Pokemon games, it has served as an integral part of the game's basic functions. Since both games that utilized the Rotom Pokedex or Rotom Phone have then also included Rotom as an actual Pokemon to catch and use, it stands to reason that Rotom should have also appeared or been confirmed for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Pokedex by now. But with it absent, this can only mean one of two things: either Game Freak is planning something new to trump both the Rotom Pokedex or the Rotom Phone, or it's moving away from the concept altogether.
If the Rotom Pokedex and Phone are getting another upgrade, the big question is what would this then look like. Current details about the design of Scarlet and Violet have already confirmed that the open world will have its most ambitious scope yet, moving away from the semi-open world design seen in recent games like Sword and Shield, so traveling around is going to be an important factor for Game Freak to address. Some theories have speculated that bikes may play a huge part in Scarlet and Violet, meaning that Rotom's absence at the moment is because Game Freak could be saving the reveal of a new and improved Rotom Bike.
However, Game Freak might not want to shackle its future design of the Pokedex around a single Pokemon, nor would it want to constantly have to include Rotom in each generation moving forward. Rotom's absence then is far more bittersweet, as it could be a sign that Game Freak is making the difficult decision to step away from the concept now before it's too late. A return to more traditional Pokedex designs could be on the table or a scaled-back, or alternatively, Game Freak creating the Arc Phone as a substitute for the Rotom Phone in Legends: Arceus, other Pokemon might be used instead of Rotom. For instance, other devices previously seen in Pokemon canon such as the Poryphone from both the anime and Pokemon Masters could be used, or even more adventurously Gen 9 could introduce a whole new Pokemon to take Rotom's place.
Rotom's Future In Pokemon
Without any official confirmation that Rotom either is or isn't in Scarlet and Violet, the void left until its confirmation one way or the other will continue to leave fans with many questions. Game Freak hasn't yet set a significant enough precedent yet where Rotom is now destined to appear in all future Pokemon games, but with the games' release upcoming. it's about to either make or break that pattern, so it will remain to be seen what Game Freak decides for Scarlet and Violet.
Rotom's popularity, however, will not die out, as fans continue to love and support such a unique Pokemon by drawing new Rotom forms for it to have or using it competitively in tournaments. Perhaps, if Rotom is no longer expected to serve as a Pokedex ever again, then at the very least Game Freak could continue as the fans have done and show that Rotom is still near and dear to its heart. With Scarlet and Violet due to release later this year, players will be waiting for further news over the next few months, and fingers crossed that Rotom finally makes an overdue appearance to put these concerns and suspicions to bed.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to release on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
