Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

*Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are upcoming 2022 video games (RPGs) developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo Switch. they are the first installments in the ninth generation of the Pokemon video game series. First announced in February 2022, They were released worldwide on 18 November 2022.*

*Scarlet* and *Violet* take place in the Paldea region, based off of the Iberian Peninsula. *Scarlet* and *Violet* introduce 103 new Pokémon, alongside 4 new regional forms, and the Terastal phenomenon, which allows a Pokémon to transform into its exclusive Tera Type.

*The games sold over 10 million copies in their first three days, making them Nintendo's biggest launch of all time.*

Gameplay

*Pokémon Scarlet* and *Violet* largely follow the same basic gameplay structure of previous *Pokémon* games, where players obtain creatures known as Pokémon, primarily through catching and trading, and use them to explore the world and battle other Pokémon trainers.

*The games introduces three new starter Pokémon: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, and two new legendary Pokémon: Koraidon and Miraidon. To assist in travel, Koraidon, Miraidon, and another Pokémon, Cyclizar, can be used to traverse the environment. A mechanic called "Let's Go" will allow the player to send out a Pokémon to roam the overworld and automatically battle enemies.*

*Scarlet* and *Violet* introduce the Terastal phenomenon, which gives Pokémon a crystalline appearance, as well as changing a Pokémon's type to match that Pokémon's "Tera Type", as well as unlocking special moves such as Tera Blast, which, when used by a Terastallized Pokémon, becomes a move of the same type as the Pokémon’s Tera Type

Setting

Scarlet And Violet is set in the Paldea region of the *Pokémon* universe, which appears to be based off of the Iberian Peninsula. The colors used for the names of the games, Scarlet and Violet, may also be a reference to the flag of the Second Spanish Republic, since Spain forms part of the Iberian Peninsula. The player visits the Naranja (in Scarlet) or Uva (in Violet) Academy in time for the annual Treasure Hunt, where the rival character, Nemona, encourages the player to explore Paldea and find their own treasure. Starfall Street has the player facing off against a gang of rebellious students called Team Star. The Path of Legends storyline has the player team up with Arven to explore the Paldea region to fight giant Pokémon and obtain the Herba Mystica, and Victory Road follows series tradition of fighting the region’s eight Gym Leaders in order to face the Champion and become the best Pokémon Trainer.

Plot

In *Scarlet* and *Violet*, the player attends either the Naranja or Uva Academy. The academy has a "Treasure Hunt", in which students are encouraged to seek something they treasure by exploring the region. After encountering the legendary Pokémon Koraidon or Miraidon, who joins and assists the player despite having lost its ability to battle, the player is encouraged to participate in three stories: *Victory Road*, *Starfall Street*, and *Path of Legends*.

In *Victory Road*, Nemona—the Champion-ranked trainer that rivals the player, frequently battling them throughout their journey—asks that they complete all eight of the Paldea region's Pokémon Gyms. After they defeat the leaders of each Gym, they can reach Champion rank by defeating the region's Elite Four and Top Champion Geeta. After becoming Champion rank, Nemona challenges the player to a final battle.

*Starfall Street* begins after the player helps the shy schoolgirl Penny stand up against Team Star, a group for academy bullying, when Cassiopeia—the founder of Team Star and a secret identity of Penny—enlists them into "Operation Starfall", which aims to force Team Star to disband by defeating all five of its squad bosses, stripping them of their authority within the group. They are assisted by academy director Clavell, who is aiming to discover Team Star's origins while disguised as a student named Clive, and Penny, who wants to monitor the player in-person in addition to guiding them as Cassiopeia. They learn that Team Star was founded to counter bullying rather than cause it, and them confronting their bullies two years prior caused the bullies to drop out and several academy staff members to resign. After defeating all squad bosses, Penny meets the player in the schoolyard to reveal her identity and challenge them to a battle. After her defeat, Clavell removes his disguise and offers peace with Team Star, though he subjects its members to community service as punishment for several violations.

Arven, aiming to locate the five legendary Herba Mystica, asks the player to join them in the *Path of Legends* story. To obtain each Herba Mystica, the player and Arven must team up to defeat a "Titan Pokémon"—a large Pokémon powered up by the Herba Mystica. Arven wishes to use the Herba Mystica to restore the health of his pet Mabosstiff, who was injured by a Pokémon in Area Zero—the workplace of his parent, either Professor Sada or Turo. After defeating all five Titans and restoring the health of Mabosstiff and regaining Koraidon/Miraidon's lost powers, Arven and the player are called by the professor to go to Area Zero with either the Scarlet or Violet Book. However, Arven decides that they must recruit further allies before journeying to Area Zero.

After choosing Nemona and Penny for assistance, Arven and the player set out towards the Zero Lab, professor's laboratory in Area Zero. Inside, they encounter Paradox Pokémon—biological relatives of extant Pokémon from either the ancient past or far future. After reaching the laboratory, the professor reveals themselves to be an AI substitute of the true professor, who was killed in a laboratory incident some time ago. The AI reveals that the original professor created a time machine to retrieve Paradox Pokémon, and that the AI is to maintain it at all costs. The AI urges the player to shut down the time machine, though is forced by its programming to battle the player. After initially being defeated, the AI leaves the player with no option except for their Koraidon or Miraidon to defeat the AI's own. This causes the time machine to fail, and the AI travels to the alternate time to allow for the machines destruction, though apologizes to Arven for the professor neglecting him as a child before departing. Returning to the academy, Nemona, Clavell, and Geeta organize a Pokémon battling tournament between faculty and students. After evaluating all previous Gyms, the player emerges victorious in the tournament.

Development

*Pokémon Scarlet* and *Violet* started development in late 2019, around the time that *Pokémon Sword* and *Shield* released.

Marketing and Release

The games are announced as part of Pokemon Presents on 27 February 2022. Throughout the game's pre-release marketing, several in-universe videos have been published by The Pokémon Company, such as a camera trap to reveal Grafaiai, a web seminar to reveal Wiglett, a livestream to reveal Bellibolt, and a short found footage trailer to reveal Greavard.

On 1 June 2022, a second trailer was released, showing the two box cover legendary Pokémon along with more gameplay footage Three new Pokémon, and new characters.

On 3 August 2022, a third trailer was released alongside an overview trailer during Pokémon Presents. These trailers revealed two new Pokémon, the return of regional variants as showcased with Paldean Wooper, the name of the region, a new battle mechanic known as the Terastal Phenomenon, as well as other details.

During the closing ceremony of the Pokémon World Championships 2022 on 21 August 2022, a new trailer was released that showcased a new Pokémon as well as new items and abilities to be used in competitive play.

A fourth trailer, titled "Seek Your Treasure!", details the 3 stories that the player can experience, as well as new Pokémon. Characters such as Mela, Brassius, and Geeta also made their debut in the September 7 trailer.

On 29 September 2022, singer Ed Sheeran released a song called Celestial with The Pokemon Company that appeared in *Pokémon Scarlet* and *Violet*.

On 6 October 2022, a 14-minute trailer was released, highlighting the unique gameplay between four different players, each going on a different "path" in the story, as well as Farigiraf, Girafarig's evolution.

A special edition Nintendo Switch OLED console with themed artwork was released on 4 November 2022.

On 11 November 2022, a week before the games come out, a Splatfest themed around the three starter types was held in *Splatoon 3*.

*Pokémon Scarlet* and *Violet* were released worldwide on 18 November 2022.

On 1 December 2022, Nintendo has apologised for the issues players have encountered, with the announcement of the 1.1.0 update.