Summary
- New Pokemon Scarlet and Violet game cartridges now include The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC with no download required.
- The game's packaging may not yet reflect this change.
- Online connectivity is still needed for multiplayer activities and to download Mystery Gifts.
A source claims that some new Pokemon Scarlet and Violet game cartridges making the rounds include both the base game and The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC with no downloading required. Pictures of the new Pokemon Scarlet and Violet cards have been posted on social media to give fans a way to identify if their copy of the game requires a download or not.
Though Pokemon Scarlet and Violet got off to a rocky start due to performance issues and criticism from fans regarding the title's graphics, that has not stopped the ninth generation of Pokemon titles from being included among the top 10 best-selling Switch games. As of June 2024, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have sold over 25 million copies in total, with 10 million global sales coming from the first three days alone. Nearly a year after its launch, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet released two expansions collectively dubbed The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC. Both The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk arrived via downloadable patches, which also aimed to fix some player-reported performance issues.
With both expansions released, The Pokemon Company is now offering new players a chance to experience the entire ninth generation with ease. According to Twitter user @NJeisseRevised, copies of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that also include The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC have begun to appear at various retailers in the US. Though these copies were first sold in Japan, they come with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet version 3.0.1, which was made available for download in February 2024. Players no longer need to download any content updates to play the newest versions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet if they use these cartridges.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Game Cards May Now Include DLC Without Downloads
That said, online connectivity will still be necessary for some multiplayer activities and to download Mystery Gifts. A connection will also be needed to get the Mythical Pecha Berry needed to unlock the Mochi Madness epilogue event after completing the DLC. In addition, @NJeisseRevised pointed out that copies of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that do not require a download will have the numbers "004" printed on the back of the game cartridge, just above the contacts. Users have reported that not all covers of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have been updated to reflect the changes, so until then, buyers are urged to double-check their cartridges for the aforementioned digits.
With Pokemon Legends: Z-A slated to arrive in 2025, a streamlined version of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is understandable, as it will give players a chance to binge the entirety of the games ahead of the next title's release. It's unclear when the game covers will also be updated to note these changes.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Released
- November 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you play Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet hosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is "A Treasure Hunt." Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!
Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.
These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
- Cross Save
- no
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 32 Hours
