Summary
- Pokemon GO's addition of Pokemon from the Paldea region marks the quickest adaptation of a new generation, potentially paving the way for Generation 10's immediate addition.
- Prior to the trend of hosting special events to promote new Pokemon game releases, all regions had to be slowly added to Pokemon GO through exclusive events and promotions.
- The Paldea region's fast entrance into Pokemon GO suggests that Generation 10 may be added sooner than expected, possibly even at the very start of the next generation.
While there were many announcements that came out of the recent Pokemon Presents, there was one announcement that signaled a new beginning for the mobile game Pokemon GO that some fans may not have realized at first. During the presentation, GO Fest was discussed at length, emphasizing Diancie and its Mega Evolution's being added to the game. On top of that, it was announced that in September 2023, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are entering Pokemon GO with the addition of Pokemon from the Paldea region.
It may not seem important that Pokemon GO is adding Generation 9 pocket monsters so soon, but it actually sets a new record for the game and the series' rate of adapting to a new generation. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet would have only been out for 11 months once its starter creatures and other Pokemon make it into the game, which means that it's highly likely that when Generation 10 comes around, its critters may be added immediately.
How Pokemon GO Will Likely Add Generation 10 Pokemon As Soon As Possible
When Pokemon GO first launched, it started out rather small and simple compared to what it is now with a good selection of creatures from the Kanto region available to catch, with others such as Ditto being added later once its mechanics were figured out. Later in 2016, Baby Pokemon were added into the pool of hatchable critters to lead up to Johto, which would be added in Feburary of 2017. The Hoenn region would follow later that same year, and from then on, new batches of regional Pokemon from Generations 4 and 6 would be added every following year.
However, in 2019, as Pokemon GO was being recognized as a stable part of the Pokemon franchise rather than a mobile game fans could pick up and play if they desired to, the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield would begin GO's trend of hosting special events to celebrate the franchise's biggest launches. Galarian Wheezing would be a limited-time encounter to celebrate Generation 8's release, and Hisuian Voltorb would be available to promote Pokemon Legends Arceus. Gimmighoul would signify Pokemon Scarlet and Violet a few months later in 2023.
Despite these promotions, there hasn't been any Generation or region of Pokemon that has been given preferential treatment for the sake of promoting the games outside regional variants. All the regions had to be added in through a drip-feed for exclusive events and other promotions within Pokemon GO, and some regions have only just begun. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Unova are the only regions in which the Pokedex can be completed, and Generations 4, and 6 through 8 are still being added to this day.
The Galar region starters - the generation whose launch was celebrated with Galarian Wheezing being added to Pokemon GO - are still missing, and yet Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly will join the adventure next month, along with other Paldea Pokemon. This sets a very clear record for the fastest addition of any generation and its starters seen in Pokemon GO to date. It likely means that Paldea will be added to Pokemon GO's current drip-feed along with the remaining Pokemon that the game has yet to include despite Scarlet and Violet only being out for a year.
Putting Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's creatures in the game so soon puts Niantic's AR game in a very interesting position when it comes to the future. While Generation 10 may still be a few years away, that gives the mobile title a few more years to catch up, which may close the divide between the other lacking regional Pokedexes in Pokemon GO and Generation 10. As a result of the Paldea region's rather fast entrance into GO, it seems like Generation 10 is likely going to be added even sooner, potentially right at the beginning of the next Pokemon generation.
Pokemon GO is available for Android and iOS.