Report claims Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes could release this year
Switch remakes could coincide with Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, it’s claimed
The Pokémon Company could be working on remakes of Nintendo DS games Diamond and Pearl, according to a new report and a freshly discovered website URL.
Fan site Centro Pokémon claims to have been informed by sources close to The Pokémon company that it will announce the games in February to coincide with the franchise’s 25th anniversary.
Originally released in 2006, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl were the first instalments in the fourth generation of the Pokémon video game series.
It’s claimed that the remakes will hit Nintendo Switch in 2021 and feature classic capture mechanics as opposed to those featured in Pokémon Let’s Go.
Potentially lending weight to the report is Centro Pokémon’s discovery that a diamondpearl.pokemon.com domain has been enabled. The URL currently returns a 403 error, meaning access to the requested resource is forbidden, but it may suggest The Pokémon Company has created blocked content under the Diamond and Pearl name.
UPDATE: The diamondpearl.pokemon.com web address has now been taken down.
ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: A noted Nintendo insider, who has previously leaked accurate timings related to Nintendo Directs, also recently claimed that Pokémon remakes would be released in November 2021.
Mainline Pokémon instalments Red & Blue, Gold & Silver, and Sapphire & Ruby have all been remade, so fourth generation Diamond & Pearl is theoretically next in line for the same treatment.
On DS, Diamond & Pearl introduced internet play over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, several changes to the core battle mechanics and the addition of over 100 new Pokémon.
The games take place in the fictional region of Sinnoh, an island based on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, characterised by its large, snow-covered mountains.
Last November, The Pokémon Company began teasing plans for a “very special upcoming celebration of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary in 2021”.
As revealed on an anniversary website this week, The Pokémon Company will be collaborating with singer Katy Perry, releasing special merchandise, and reprinting classic Pokémon cards.
New Pokémon Snap, the Switch sequel to the classic N64 game, will be released on April 30, Nintendo also announced on Thursday.
Further reading
Nintendo announces surprise April release for New Pokémon Snap
Several Pokémon games were released to coincide with the franchise’s 20th anniversary in 2016, including Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon for 3DS and Pokémon Go for iOS and Android.
Nintendo launched Pokémon Sword and Shield’s The Crown Tundra DLC for Switch in October. It’s available as part of a $29.99/£26.99 expansion pass, which also grants access to Sword and Shield’s first expansion, Isle of Armor.
Together the two expansions add more than 200 legacy Pokémon to the game. Players who don’t purchase the DLC can obtain them via other means such as trading or online play.
