Pokemon Presents 2023 – two classic Pokemon titles coming to Nintendo Switch

08 August 2023 , 14:03

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Mew arrives in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet later today (Image: Nintendo)

The Pokemon Presents presentation has revealed that two first-generation Pokemon titles will be arriving on the Nintendo Switch later today.

Nintendo Switch Online is getting some brand new titles, with Nintendo announcing in the latest Pokemon Presents stream that Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be getting the Game Boy Colour's Pokemon Trading Card Game. Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers will get that and the Nintendo 64's Pokemon Stadium 2. The Pokemon Presents 2023 stream confirmed that both titles are being released later today shortly after the presentation ends.

Pokemon Trading Card Game – based on the card game of the same name is a hidden gem among Pokemon fans, acting as a full-blown RPG in the style of the mainline games, but with the kicker of being based around playing the card game rather than battling the monsters yourself. Meanwhile, Pokemon Stadium 2 allowed players to battle their Pokemon on the big screen, not to mention the game was filled with legendary minigames.

Also revealed on todays stream was a new trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's The Teal Mask DLC expansion, which revealed a release day of September 13, 2023. Alongside that it was announced that Mew and Mewtwo are coming to the game, with Mew arriving today via Mystery Gift, with Mewtwo coming later down the line in a Tera Raid. Other announcements included a new trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns and confirmation that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paldea Region will be arriving in Pokemon Go this September.

Gotta catch some of them

Obviously, the real elephant in the room is why are the original mainline Pokemon titles still not available on Nintendo Switch Online. You have Game Boy, Game Boy Colour, and Game Boy Advance available, putting any of Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Red, and Leaf Green is guaranteed to bring subscribers in droves to the service.

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While getting spinoffs like Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Stadium, and the highly underrated Pokemon Puzzle League has been cool, every time a Pokemon Presents goes by without an announcement of the mainline titles feels like a missed opportunity.

Scott McCrae