Every year, Niantic hosts an event in Pokemon GO to commemorate the release of Pokemon Red and Blue, the first installments in the Pokemon franchise. These events, which are called Pokemon GO Tours, usually take place in the month of February and often come in multiple forms. Some Pokemon GO Tours are only available in certain cities around the world, while others are accessible to all players worldwide. Players who want to attend the in-person events must pay for a ticket to access all the digital goodies that participants can receive, such as new Pokemon, Pokemon Eggs, Raid Passes, exclusive medals, Catch Candies, and more.
Each Pokemon GO Tour is themed around a specific region from the mainline Pokemon games. In 2023, Niantic hosted Tours that featured Pokemon from Hoenn, and in 2024, it held events that were centered around Sinnoh. Next year, though, the Pokemon GO Tours are going to take players to Unova, the New York-inspired region that serves as the primary setting for the fifth-generation Pokemon games, Black and White and Black 2 and White 2. Since Niantic tends to choose regions for the Pokemon GO Tours based on their chronological appearance in the core Pokemon games, the next event being set in Unova isn't very surprising. Still, the fact that this region is finally getting some recognition from The Pokemon Company again may indicate that a Pokemon Black and White remake is on the horizon.
From February 21 to 23, 2025, players who reside in Los Angeles and New Taipei City will be able to participate in Pokemon Go Tour: Unova. Pokemon GO fans all around the world will then have the opportunity to experience the event in the following week, from March 1 to 2.
Pokemon Go's Unova Tour Could Be a Sign of Things to Come for the Franchise
Remakes Are a Staple of the Pokemon Series
Mainline installments in the Pokemon franchise are usually remade once every few years. The first Pokemon games to get the remake treatment were Pokemon Red and Blue, which were rebuilt from the ground up in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Game Boy Advance. Following the release of these games, all subsequent Nintendo handhelds received a Pokemon remake of some sort. The Nintendo DS had Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver (remakes of the 1999 titles Pokemon Gold and Silver) and the Nintendo 3DS got Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (remakes of 2002's Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire).
The Switch is unique among Nintendo's handhelds, as it is the only console that The Pokemon Company has released two mainline Pokemon remakes for. In 2018, Game Freak and TPC released Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, which were from-the-ground-up remakes of Pokemon Yellow. The Pokemon Company then launched Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on the Switch in 2021. As their names suggest, these games were remakes of the fourth-generation Pokemon games, Diamond and Pearl.
Pokemon Yellow itself was an enhanced re-release of Pokemon Red and Blue for the Game Boy Color.
A Pokemon Black and White Remake for the Switch 2 Makes Perfect Sense
Since the first four generations of mainline Pokemon games have all received 3D remakes by now, it seems safe to assume that Pokemon Black and White will be remade next. However, the fact that B&W are the only mainline Pokemon installments with direct sequels may complicate the matter somewhat. If The Pokemon Company does decide to remake B&W, it would have to remake B2&W2, as well. It would otherwise be strange for them to omit half the storyline of the fifth-gen Pokemon games.
Given that the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be announced within the next three months, it's extremely unlikely that a hypothetical Pokemon Black and White remake will be released as a Switch exclusive. The Pokemon Company will probably want to prioritize its development efforts on Nintendo's next console, since it's apparently going to be far more powerful than the current Switch. Maybe if a Pokemon Black and White remake is designed specifically for the Switch 2, it will have modern, PS4-level graphics that make Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl look dated by comparison.
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon GO is an immersive open-world multiplayer RPG that enables you to live your own RPG adventure in augmented reality. Find and evolve all Pokémon and battle with other players in AR online in this multiplayer adventure RPG.
COMPLETE YOUR POKÉDEX AND INCREASE YOUR TRAINER LEVEL!
Catch your favourite Pokémon as you explore the open world in augmented reality, trade them with other Trainers, or get the chance to catch a Pokémon after winning a Raid. You can also collect Pokémon by hatching eggs through walking! Evolve your Pokémon in your Pokédex, gain levels to catch more powerful Pokémon and earn adventure rewards during a Raid in multiplayer or online PvP battle.
EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE IN MULTIPLAYER AND PvP!
Start your own adventure and challenge other Trainers online in PvP during epic Gym battles or in the GO Battle League. You can also enjoy multiplayer by facing off with other players in PvP battles to win rewards, or team up with other Trainers for a chance to catch Pokémon after a Raid Battle.
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Customise your avatar, join one of the three teams and pick your Buddy Pokémon from your Pokédex to journey by your side in this AR adventure RPG.
SWITCH BETWEEN THE REAL WORLD AND THE VIRTUAL WORLD WITH THE AR+ MODE!
Bring the RPG to the real world and search for Pokémon in locations around you. With the AR+ mode, Pokémon appear right in front of you — Catch it with your PokéBall and add it to your Pokédex.
Catch your favourite Pokémon in AR as you explore the world and battle online with other Trainers in PvP and Raid battles.
