Pokemon Direct 2021: Diamond Pearl remakes AND Sinnoh feudal reboot REVEALED
POKEMON DIRECT 2021 was packed full of announcements, with the in-demand Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes finally being announced as well as a brand new Sinnoh game called Pokemon Legends Arceus.
POKEMON DIRECT 2021 - UPDATE ONE: The Pokemon Direct aired today and it was pretty special.
The Pokemon Direct, which was broadcast in the run-up to Pokemon Day which this year marks the Pokemon series' 25th anniversary, at long last announced the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes that fans have long been calling for.
The remakes of the classic DS Pokemon games are being developed ILCA - who worked on Pokemon Home - and boasts a cute chibi art style.
The Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl games will be coming to the Nintendo Switch in late 2021.
But the big surprise was the reveal of a brand new Sinnoh game heading to the Nintendo Switch in 2022.
This new Pokemon game is called Pokemon Legends Arceus and is set in a bygone, feudal-esque era in the Pokemon world.
First came Sinnoh remakes. Then came Sinnoh pre-makes.
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) February 26, 2021
Introducing #PokemonLegendsArceus, a new challenge and a new frontier for the Pokémon world. pic.twitter.com/Kgm8Y1UPjm
Sinnoh.
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) February 26, 2021
Remakes.
Confirmed.#PokemonBrilliantDiamond#PokemonShiningPearl pic.twitter.com/z0JIgXyh4x
And it boasts a gorgeous art-style, which at times almost has an art brush painted quality to it.
This new Pokemon game, which is being developed by Game Freak, is heading to the Nintendo Switch in early 2022.
The latest Pokemon Presents stream also showcased New Pokemon Snap which is out in April and began with a nostalgia-inducing video that celebrated 25 years of the Pokemon series.
ORIGINAL: Pokemon Presents is airing later today, with the Pokemon Direct-style broadcast happening in the run-up to Pokemon Day.
This year Pokemon Day - which marks the anniversary of the original Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green release for the Game Boy - falls on a weekend.
Nintendo don't typically hold major Directs on a Saturday or Sunday, so instead we're getting the Pokemon Presents 2021 stream today.
At 3pm UK time (7am pacific and 10am eastern) a Pokemon Presents broadcast will be airing.
So far the Pokemon Company haven't really teased what kind of announcements are in store, but the YouTube page for the Direct has labelled it 'Pokemon Presents #Pokemon25'.
So it looks like we'll be finding out ways in which Nintendo and the Pokemon Company will be marking the big Pokemon birthday.
And rumour has it fans at long last could be getting Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl Remakes this year.
Trainers have long been calling for Gen 4 Remakes and a return to the Sinnoh region.
And last year notable leaker Kelios appeared to hint this would be the case.
Pokémon Sword & Shield: Trailer for ‘The Crown Tundra’
The leaker - who in the past correctly revealed when an upcoming Nintendo Direct was happening - posted about what was planned for the Pokemon Anniversary.
Besides New Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Unite, Kelios also tweeted that a Detective Pikachu sequel was in the works.
And the leaker also said that remakes fans have long been calling for are coming and will be out in November 2021.
While Kelios didn't specifically mention Diamond and Pearl, this seems to be the most likely candidate.
Since then it's been claimed the Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl Remakes will have Let's Go catching mechanics.
These rumours were only given more weight when earlier this week the official Pokemon Twitter tweeted: "Let's Go, Sinnoh!"
And separately Nintendo has recently renewed a trademark for the Poke Ball Plus in the run-up to the Pokemon 25th Anniversary.
This accessory was used in Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu Pokemon Let's Go Eevee to simulate the action of catching a Pokemon.
The timing of this trademark, as well as the teasing Pokemon tweet and previous rumours from Kelios, could all add up to an inbound Diamond and Pearl remake announcement.
Elsewhere there are plenty of other plans in place to mark the Pokemon birthday with a digital concert being held on Pokemon Day (February 27) that is headlined by Post Malone.