Summary

A patent filed by both Nintendo and The Pokemon Company has recently surfaced, and the details hint at some potentially substantial changes that could be in the works for thePokemonfranchise. Withthe Switch 2 being Nintendo’s worst-kept secret, gamers are looking to the future. However, with new hardware comes new possibilities. It’s not simply about what Nintendo’s next console might look like, but rather, it’s about the experiences fans can have on them.

It should certainly be noted that patents in no way confirm a particular product will ever come to market.Nintendo patented a dual-screen gaming device that can be split in half, and while it is a neat idea that could make its way onto store shelves at some point in the future, it feels like a distant departure from the current Switch idea that has been so successful for the company. Even beyond that point, Nintendo (as well as its competitors) have patented all sorts of technology over the years that have yet to see the light of day. Still, these do represent things the company is, or, at least, has worked on in some capacity.

Nintendo and The Pokemon Company patent for Content Holding System

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Asfirst spotted by Xfire, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company jointly filed fora patentthat appears to be a potential successor or upgrade to Pokemon Home. The patent refers to what could be the next evolution of the subscription service that houses and transfers Pokemon, but with some fundamental changes that will make pocket monsters feel more alive. While the new service still serves the main purpose of Home, which is to store and transfer Pokemon from one game to another, the creatures within the patented technology can learn, evolve, and maintain traits from the various regions they have traveled to.

pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-cover-art

Theoretically, Pokemon would not only maintain their stats from game to game as they do now, but they would also store information about Gym Badges and various battles they’ve helped win in another region entirely. It’s possible Pokemon could even change based on location. Regional variants could even be altered if moved. Needless to say, this would be an absolute game-changer for thePokemonfranchise.

The patent paints a picture of a world where Pokemon grow with their respective trainers. Players could take their favorite Pokemon from region to region, and that same creature would essentially remember the relationship that has been built along the way. Gamers are makingthe case forPokemonto break certain traditions in Gen 10, but this patent hints at an ideological and fundamental change for the series.

In the more immediate future, however, the current generation of games is slated to receive its second wave of DLC on December 14. Fans still aren’t entirely surewhat to expect fromPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Indigo Disk DLC, but the details that have been revealed point to new and returning pocket monsters, a new Legendary, and an entirely new area to explore.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

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Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet are the main entries in the series for Generation IX. They introduced over 100 new Pokemon and brought players to the Paldea region.