Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will continue to allow players to customize their trainers, and many fans are excited to see what new elements Gen 9 will bring to character customization. Since Pokémon X and Y, players have been able to change the appearance of their in-game avatars by choosing skin tones, hairstyles, and outfits. This development for the Pokémon series has been a welcome change even with its limits, because when fans get to design their own characters, they can better immerse themselves in the world of Pokémon. Thus, with each generation that has followed Pokémon X and Y, a lot of attention has been focused on how Game Freak will continue developing customization options.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's character customization feature is introducing the most substantial changes to the series since Gen 6. On top of bringing back older features, newer ones that have been long-desired by fans are finally arriving to the series. Additionally, other elements of character customization from Pokémon’s past are being axed to pave way for more inclusive game design. That being said, there are some rumors surrounding character customization that have players worried, so following is all that is currently known about character customization in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
No Gender-Restricted Character Customization In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will be the first games in the series to remove gender-based restrictions in character customization. This means that players will have access to all clothes, hairstyles, eye colors, and facial features regardless of their trainer's gender identity. This is in contrast to character customization in past Pokémon generations, which have limited players’ clothing and hairstyle options based on the gender they pick for their trainers at the beginning of the game. YouTuber Good Vibes Gaming explained Pokémon’s intent with this change, stating, "I asked how to change my gender, and the reps informed me that all customization options are available to any player at any time. Instead of choosing a gender, players select from eight base styles, then customize from there - making gender an expression, not a selection."
Good Vibes Gaming’s comment also means that the regional professor will not be asking players what their genders are at the start of Scarlet and Violet. This set-up to gender identity will allow for a larger variety of gender expressions among players, as men, women, and non-binary people will get to present themselves as masculine or feminine as they desire. There are still rumors that specific hairstyles do have restrictions on gender identity in the game, however. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are still missing features that would remove certain restrictions when it comes to character customization.
Still, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is opening up other avenues for gender expression. Because the bodies of trainer models are not impacted by gender, there are no gendered variants to apparel like in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This means that players of any gender identity will have access to exact same clothing options as anyone else. Furthermore, it means that customization options are not organized according to male and female categories or even masculine and feminine categories in players' wardrobes, as all options work for all players.
Players Can Change Facial Features In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will enable players to customize their characters’ faces. This is a major evolution for the Pokémon series' developing customization options. Since Gen 6, players have been able to customize their trainers by choosing different skin tones, hairstyles, and clothes; however, their faces always remain the same, generic Pokémon design for human characters. Nintendo UK’s gameplay trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet shows that this is finally changing: players will get to customize specific facial features.
In fact, players will have a large variety of options when it comes to facial customization. The gameplay trailer shows that there are at least ten categories players can customize. Though two of them are unclear, eight of them are: eye shape, eye color, eyelash shape, eyelash color, eyebrow shape, eyebrow color, lip shape, and lip color. Based on the trainers’ features in the gameplay trailer, though, it appears players can adjust skin complexion, nose shape, and potentially even more.
Players can also customize their faces - and even their outfits - at any time in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The in-game Camera App even allows for trainers to get a better view of outfits and facial constructions they are tinkering with to find the right look. In all, the addition of customizable facial features in Pokémon is a huge step for the series.
How To Get More Clothes And Hairstyles In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will see the return of hair salons and boutiques. Hair salons are where players will get to change their hairstyle and hair color, and boutiques are where players can purchase more clothes and accessories. Both will be stationed in various spots around Paldea, most likely in the region’s cities and towns.
Pokémon players can change clothes at any time they want as long as they own the clothes. However, the aforementioned gameplay trailer appears to suggest that hairstyle and color can only be altered in hair salons. This is in line with the practices of previous generations, so it's likely that players will not be able to change their hairstyle and color as freely as their clothes and accessories.
Though clothing items are no longer restricted according to gender in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it is unclear if the same is true for version exclusives. Rumors surrounding version-exclusive customization options in the game suggest that certain clothing items and accessories will be exclusive to whichever version of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players choose. Players appear to start off with school attire related to the Academies featured in the games: Naranja Academy and Uva Academy. Thus, it may be the case the boutiques of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will have their supply limited to version-exclusive clothing items and accessories.
There are still a lot of ambiguities surrounding the customization options in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Clothing items may be limited to school uniforms, and bike customization may be irrelevant due to the Gen 9 Legendaries. Regardless, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will bring plenty of exciting developments to character customization for fans
Sources: Good Vibes Gaming/YouTube, CentroLEAKS/Twitter, Nintendo UK/YouTube
