The first four generations of Pokemon games established a clear pattern. Game Freak and Nintendo would first release a pair of Pokemon games and then later follow them up with a more comprehensive third entry. Pokemon Red and Blue were followed by Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Gold and Silver were followed by Pokemon Crystal, Ruby and Sapphire were followed by Emerald, and Diamond and Pearl were followed by Platinum. However, things changed with the fifth generation of Pokemon games, which moved away from this pattern.
Instead of releasing a comprehensive third game for Pokemon Black and White, Game Freak and Nintendo instead put out Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, which narratively served more as sequels to the original Black and White games. And then things really got off the rails with the sixth generation of games, as Pokemon X and Y never received a third game or sequels.
Pokemon Sun and Moon had Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and while Pokemon Sword and Shield never had a third version or sequels, they did get extensive post-launch DLC that essentially served the same purpose. This makes Pokemon X and Y unique in the Pokemon franchise, and it makes the Kalos region one of the least-represented in the entire series. But even though it's been almost a decade since Pokemon X and Y originally released for the Nintendo 3DS, now may actually be the perfect time to finally move forward with Pokemon Z.
Nintendo 3DS Shutdown Date
Nintendo recently made the disappointing announcement that it would be ending support for the Nintendo 3DS eShop. On May 23, Nintendo 3DS users will no longer be able to add credit cards to their systems to make purchases from the 3DS eShop, and then August 29, 2022 will bring with it the inability to add funds at all. Then in late March 2023, the Nintendo 3DS eShop will be discontinued entirely, trapping a number of high-profile and popular games on the system.
This includes the Pokemon X and Y games. While it's true that fans could get physical copies, they will likely be paying a lot of money for them. Pokemon games tend to hold their value or even go up in price as the years go by. Right now, buying Pokemon X or Pokemon Y complete in box will cost players upwards of $50 on eBay, with just the cartridge retailing for around $30. Once the 3DS eShop closes, it's highly likely these prices will increase, and it's also highly likely that more counterfeit Pokemon X and Y cartridges will be introduced to the used games market, as that tends to happen with classic Pokemon games.
In any case, the closure of the 3DS eShop is going to make the Kalos region significantly more inaccessible for Pokemon fans who may want to visit it, and so that's why now is the perfect time for a Pokemon Z game. This hypothetical game could be developed for the Nintendo Switch, yet essentially function as the third game that Pokemon X and Y never got. It could give Pokemon fans the chance to return to the Kalos region and give the Pokemon there more time to shine.
Nintendo likes to ensure that new Pokemon games are released on a regular basis, and it seems like it would be cost-effective for it to move forward with a Pokemon Z, as a lot of the work has already been done in the Pokemon X and Y games. While Nintendo is focused on releasing Pokemon Scarlet and Violet later this year, maybe a potential Pokemon Z could be the 2023 or even 2024 game.
With the release of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, one could argue that Pokemon Black and White should be next in line for a remaster or new game. However, the Unova region was already represented in four games, whereas Kalos didn't get a similiar treatment.
If Nintendo and Game Freak aren't ready or aren't interested in releasing Pokemon Z or a similar kind of game, maybe they could bring Pokemon X and Y to the Nintendo Switch instead. The closure of the Wii U and 3DS eShops are going to make it significantly difficult for fans to get their hands on certain games, and it should be a shame for them to waste away on unsupported systems.
Perhaps Nintendo could finally introduce a proper Virtual Console to the Nintendo Switch, allowing users to buy games from platforms that aren't featured on the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service like DS, 3DS, Wii, and Wii U titles. However, Nintendo has made no plans to that effect, and so Pokemon fans shouldn't hold their breath for it.
Anyone that has yet to play the Pokemon X and Y games and is interested in visiting the Kalos region should seriously consider buying them before the 3DS eShop closes. While now may be the perfect time for a new game set in the Kalos region, whether that be Pokemon Z or something else, Game Freak and Nintendo may have their hands busy with other Pokemon projects.
