2025 Pokemon Mainline Game Rumors: Are We Seeing History Repeat Itself with Non-Legendary Titles?

Overview of Current Pokémon Developments

Several initiatives are in progress for the Pokémon franchise, such as new game launches and enhanced VGC support for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Notable leaker Riddler Khu has suggested that new mainline Pokémon games might debut in 2025, potentially coinciding with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The possibility of Pokémon Let’s Go Johto games as potential launch titles for the Switch 2 is being discussed, creating connections between Generation 9 and Legends: Z-A.

The Pokémon franchise is currently bustling with projects, encompassing various live-service mobile games, substantial expansions for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and increased VGC support for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as the 2025 World Championships approach. This year is also significant as it marks the anticipated arrival of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with a second trailer expected to drop soon, possibly before Pokémon Day on February 27. Amidst this excitement, there have been circulating rumors about another mainline Pokémon game scheduled for release this year, fueled by recent social media insights from well-known leaker Riddler Khu.

Despite some inconsistencies in Riddler Khu’s past predictions throughout 2023 and 2024, their track record in leaking information about Pokémon games remains noteworthy. A significant breach occurred last year involving Game Freak, resulting in the infamous TeraLeak, which exposed approximately 1TB of sensitive data, including unreleased files and future details related to Generation 10. Recently, Khu expressed on Twitter that there is an additional mainline project expected to launch in 2025 that wasn’t previously included in the TeraLeak documentation. Two potential theories have emerged, one of which aligns with the rumored launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 this coming year.

Pokémon Leaks Signal Potential Reveal of New Let’s Go Games in 2025

Player riding on Pokémon Lets Go Pikachu and Eevee

Khu mentioned that the game is envisioned for the Nintendo Switch 2, while it appears Pokémon Legends: Z-A is expected to be launched across both the original Switch and the upcoming handheld. The image shared by Khu, depicting a black-and-white dolphin, might evoke thoughts of potential Pokémon Black and White remakes, a wish long anticipated by fans yet to be confirmed.

On the other hand, this image might hint at the Pokémon Let’s Go series, codenamed Project Beluga, as beluga whales belong to the same cetacean family as dolphins. The release of Pokémon Let’s Go games could be logical considering it’s been quite some time since the franchise last provided an adventure in the Johto region. A new iteration of Pokémon Let’s Go Johto could ideally satisfy this gap. Furthermore, Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu! and Eevee! were the first new Pokémon games introduced on the Nintendo Switch back in 2018.

The Promise of Pokémon Let’s Go Johto as Launch Titles for Switch 2

If indeed realized, Pokémon Let’s Go Johto may emerge as one of the first Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch 2, just as their predecessors did years ago. Although this remains speculative, it becomes increasingly plausible given reports that Game Freak may have delayed Pokémon Legends: Z-A after the TeraLeak incident. This delay could feasibly position the Johto games as the premier Pokémon launch titles for the new console. Currently, there are no confirmations regarding these games aside from Khu’s leak; however, the present landscape of the franchise makes new titles a viable expectation.

The Likelihood of New Pokémon Let’s Go Games Set in Johto

Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chikorita Pokémon Sculpture

While it isn’t a certainty that the Pokémon Let’s Go series will target the Johto region in 2025, there are strong indicators supporting this theory. The previous installments of this series focused exclusively on Kanto, and with Johto having been somewhat neglected in recent releases, it stands to reason that it deserves a return. Furthermore, while rumors about remakes of Black and White or entirely new Pokémon Gen 5 games exist, without a follow-up to the trend initiated by Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the return to Johto would please a vast audience of fans. Introducing Pokémon Let’s Go Johto could serve as both fresh titles for the Switch 2 and a means to connect the gap between Generation 9 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

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