Pokémon Presents August 2021: Everything We Caught At The Event

Pokémon is one of the biggest and most popular games media franchises in the world, so The Pokémon Company often opts to stay out of the main Nintendo Directs and speak directly to their fans away from other distractions.

On August 18, 2021 a Pokémon Presents video was released that informed people about all of the weird and wonderful things happening in the world of the monster catching franchise within the next six months. Here’s a recap of everything we learned while watching that showcase.

Pokémon Unite Goes Mobile

Pokémon Unite will release on iOS and Android on September 22 2021, and can be pre-loaded from August 18, 2021 on any compatible device.

Pokémon Unite for mobile devices will have cross-play and cross-progression with the Nintendo Switch version. If enough people pre-register for the game then all players will receive a festival costume for Pikachu.

The Pokémon Company has also announced that the next two Pokémon to arrive as fighters in Pokémon Unite will be Mamoswine from Generation 4 (Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl) and Sylveon from Generation 6 (Pokémon X and Pokémon Y). There’s no word on when that will happen, though.

 

Pokémon Café Mix Is Getting A Revamp

Pokémon Café Mix will be patched with new puzzles and gameplay elements in the autumn. It will be rebranded as Pokémon Café ReMix. Premium purchases like Golden Acorns will carry over into the new version of the game.

 

Pokémon Masters EX Celebrates Two Year Anniversary

Gacha game Pokémon Masters EX has added dynamaxing and Eternatus from Pokémon Sword & Shield to the game. Several Legendary Pokémon events will be returning, alongside new content that features heroes Leon, Hop and villains like Team Rocket’s Giovanni.

 

Pokémon Go Celebrates Five Year Anniversary

Pokémon Go continues to add new content from the mainline titles, with the newest update to add Pokémon from the Galar Region to the game. These Galar Pokémon will appear in the wild on the app between August 20, 2021 and August 31, 2021. It was also hinted that the mythical Pokémon Hoopa would appear soon, but they’ve been teasing him for a while.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of Nintendo DS games Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. It’s been 15 years since those original releases, so they have several graphical and quality of life updates. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the first set of remake titles that Game Freak did not develop themselves internally.

There are several new features in the game, including the ability to change your trainer’s outfit. Perhaps most excitingly, any Pokémon that joins your team can follow you around the overworld. This is a feature fans often request, as it usually disappears between releases.  It has only been seen in Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Heart Gold, Pokémon Soul Silver, Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee!.

Another feature that got the spotlight was stickers, which have seen a significant improvement. When applied to a pokéball, they’ll add special visual effects to the captured Pokémon’s entrance animation. Pokémon Contests have also seen a revamp and now feature a rhythm based dance minigame.

Generation 4 remake players will also be able to explore the Grand Underground, which is a rogue-like environment that will feature exclusive monsters to capture and train.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be available on November 19, 2021, exclusively on Nintendo Switch. The Pokémon Presents August 2021 event also revealed a special Nintendo Switch Lite with Dialga and Palkia on the back of it will also be made available on November 5, 2021. It will come with a download code for the game software.

Unlike Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokémon Legends Arceus is developed internally by Game Freak. It’s a Breath of the Wild inspired game that is set in the past of the Sinnoh Region from Generation 4. During the time period in which Legends Arceus is set (which seems inspired by Japan’s Edo Period) the area was called the Hisui Region and was very different.

Cyndaquil, Rowlett and Oshawott are the starters in the new game. This is odd as they aren’t native to Hisui and instead come from Johto, Alola and Unova. Professor Laventon brought them to the area with him however, and gives you one of the three after he becomes your mentor when you join the Galaxy Expedition Team’s Survey Corps.

The Pokémon Presents August 2021 trailer showcased that the ability to ride Pokémon will return from Pokémon Generation 7. There’s no word on if they need to be caught, or if other mechanics will be involved in unlocking and using their monster skills.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be available January 28, 2021, exclusively on Nintendo Switch.

 

What do you think of all the Pokémon news that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company revealed today? Are you more excited for the Generation 4 remakes or for Pokémon Legends: Arceus? Let us know in the comments below!

Interested in Pokémon Unite? Why not check out our Snorlax build guide?