Pokemon Scarlet and Violet represent yet another successful launch from the franchise, and the games have already broken sales records. Despite this, there are still complaints from gamers, as there are performance issues that affect gameplay and the overall enjoyment of the games. Some have chalked this up to the fact that the Switch has dated hardware, while others argue that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet haven't been sufficiently optimized. Either way, Game Freak has attempted to mend the problem, though the solution may only cause bigger issues.
According to the patch notes of the latest update, in an attempt to alleviate Scarlet and Violet's performance issues, the game will be limiting how many Pokemon appear on-screen at once. While this could be helpful, it could also have the side effect of making the world feel rather empty. It will also affect shiny hunters, who will have their chances of encountering shinies slashed.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Update Addresses Performance Issues
A February update will introduce several tweaks meant to improve the game. As part of the update, additional functionality will be added to the Boxes, and from a Pokemon's summary page, players will be able to perform many useful tasks, including changing a Pokemon's nicknames, markings, held items, as well as being able to reorder moves, have Pokemon remember moves, have Pokemon forget moves, and use TMs. Fixes addressing minor bugs in Tera Raid battles and normal battles will also be made.
While all these changes are welcome, there is one upcoming change that has already raised eyebrows. For starters, passersby will no longer be displayed during certain battles in towns during the main story. Furthermore, in an attempt to mend a glitch that caused the game to forcibly close in certain locations, "there may be a reduction of Pokémon and people displayed in certain towns or in the wild." Although gamers have been begging for a patch that addresses the numerous performance issues, this may not be the fix they were hoping for.
Scarlet and Violet's Patch May Bring Additional Issues
Although the patch may allow Scarlet and Violet to run a little smoother, it could potentially bring other problems. Scarlet and Violet feature Pokemon in the overworld, which makes Paldea feel alive, as there are always Pokemon roaming around, and different species will sometimes have varied behaviors. With fewer Pokemon in the overworld, Paldea could feel less lively, which will in turn make exploration less fun. The personalities of the various locations in part come from the Pokemon that dwell there, and without them, different locations could feel less distinct.
The Scarlet and Violet update may also affect shiny hunters. Encountering a shiny is already a rare occurrence, with the odds at 1/4096 when players aren't using a Shiny Charm. If there are fewer Pokemon spawning, players have fewer chances to encounter the elusive shiny critters. Players who are truly committed to catching shinies might want to turn off their Switch's auto-update feature to prevent their game from updating when the game is released, although this will prevent players from playing online.
It appears that Game Freak isn't done with Paldea yet and that gamers can look forward to further improvements. There is also evidence that Scarlet and Violet DLC may be in the works, and it could tie in with Kalos. Hopefully, the DLC does not suffer from the same performance issues as the base game.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.
