DLC has become a prominent part of the last few Generations of Pokémon, but it seems that its rise has simultaneously put an end to a long-running franchise tradition. Of course, I have thoroughly enjoyed playing through the DLC of the most recent core games, as have countless other people. However, when I think about what Pokémon has lost at the same time, I cannot help but feel sad as well.

There have been two major pieces of DLC for Pokémon games so far, for the Gen 8 and 9 games, and both were released in multiple parts. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s own DLC, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, was released in three parts: The Teal Mask, The Indigo Disk, and the epilogue Mochi Mayhem. Both sets of DLC massively expanded their respective games, introducing new characters and Pokémon to populate their settings.

DLC Means Pokémon’s Upper Versions Are Probably Gone Forever

The Extra Content Supplants One Of The Main Benefits Of Upper Versions

There has been a long tradition for the core paired titles of each Pokémon Generation to be followed by a third game version, also called an upper version. Upper versions appeared in Gens 1 to 4, omitted from Gens 5 and 6, and then saw a resurgence in Gen 7 with Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon; the only time that upper versions were themselves paired games. However, with the advent of DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield in Gen 8, upper versions have fallen out of favor once more, and this time I believe it will be for good.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 arguably took the place of upper versions for their prequels in Gen 5, while Gen 6’s prospective Pokémon Z was ultimately skipped so that development could focus on Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Playing an upper version could be a radically different experience from the original paired games of a Generation, even if a large part of the game remained the same. The unusual approach to development meant that each upper version could build upon its predecessors by introducing new features and plot points, leading to very different adventures through a familiar world. For example, Pokémon Emerald combines Team Magma and Team Aqua’s plans from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire so that both come to fruition, ultimately necessitating the intervention of Rayquaza as Groudon and Kyogre wage a devastating battle.

The production of DLC in Gens 8 and 9, however, appears to have thoroughly replaced the idea of an upper version. Instead of a new game that alters the plot and introduces new features, DLC instead extends the story of these games, moving the action to new locations where a similar amount of new content can be explored without directly changing the original narratives. In some respects, this could simply be considered different approach with a similar result, but I still feel there is a strong difference between playing upper versions and DLC.

Pokémon’s Development Cycle Shift Makes Sense To Me

Creating DLC Has Advantages Over Producing An Entire New Game

I cannot deny that the change in Pokémon’s development cycle does make a lot of sense. Creating DLC for a Pokémon game is likely to be much easier than completely reworking two games into a combined version, even if the two examples have been fairly expansive in their own right. Entirely new settings offer a lot more creative freedom; it is undoubtedly simpler for the developers to introduce new content without having to work it into what has already been established.

Furthermore, as the Pokémon franchise has continued to grow over the years and introduce more side games and spin-offs, people arguably have a lot less time to play an entire extra title; this is especially true if one is aiming to play all the Pokémon games in order. Furthermore, even with strong changes, upper versions can also feel repetitive after a point. This is something that I can certainly relate to; even with the promise of a dramatically different storyline, I myself struggled to get into playing Pokémon Ultra Sun immediately on the heels of completing Pokémon Sun.

Pokémon’s approach to DLC has proven very successful in the last few years, successful enough that it is unlikely that Game Freak will ever want to return to the doubtlessly more expensive path of producing and distributing full upper versions. This is completely understandable; now that DLC has proven itself, it would make no sense to discard it without good reason. But even so, I cannot help but feel that Pokémon has lost something in the process of this change.

The Loss Of A Long Tradition Is Still Sad

I Miss What Pokémon’s Upper Versions Could Bring Despite Enjoying Modern DLC

Upper versions have rightfully earned a lot of fans over the years, myself included. One of the first games I can ever playing was Pokémon Emerald, which quickly became a cornerstone for my love of the franchise. Due to their nature, it is easy to consider upper versions to be the definitive version of their Generations. But even if one does not, it can still be fun to explore the changes upper versions bring. This potential entertainment value, combined with the nostalgia that myself and many others hold for them, is what makes loper versions so sad.

Of course, many other aspects of the franchise have been similarly left behind over the years, and abandoning some current Pokémon features could even be for the best. But to me, no matter how much sense it may make from a development standpoint, DLC is not a true improvement over the concept of upper versions. DLC may still provide incredible experiences, but it also disregards the idea of improving the original games, both mechanically and narratively. Future games may continue to grow and improve, but they have still lost a valuable opportunity in the process.

Upper versions were a key part of the franchise’s identity for years, and used to be eagerly anticipated. Now, with the franchise two Generations removed from the last examples of these games and unlikely to revisit them, this once-strong Pokémon tradition has quickly faded. DLC has effectively made upper versions redundant, and although receiving new core game content is always exciting, the fact that the core games are no longer revisited and reinterpreted like they once were still leaves me with a sense of loss.