A new Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee Kanto Remakes in 2018, many fans have been wondering when the series would get a Johto sequel. A September Pokémon Scarlet and Violet trailer featured a surprising nod to the spinoff games and may have hinted that the Let's Go remakes will not be moving forward with additional regions.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee are an HD re-imagining of the classic Pokémon Red and Blue RPGs. The Gen 1 remakes ditched the series' traditional battle system for a catching-mini game and even launched with a Pokéball controller peripheral that had motion control censors. Leading up to its release, Game Freak revealed that the spinoff games were inspired by Pokémon GO's massive mainstream success, and were designed to introduce new players to the mainline RPG series.
While some players claimed that Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee were too easy, others praised the game for its gorgeous depiction of Pokémon Red and Blue's Kanto region. Despite having been released over four years ago, there has been no announcement of a sequel to the spinoff series. However, on September 7, many fans were surprised when the Let's Go branding appeared in the latest Pokémon Scarlet and Violet trailer in the most unexpected way.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Has Let's Go Mode
During the September Pokémon Scarlet and Violet update, Game Freak revealed that the Gen 9 games will launch with a Let's Go mode. The new battle mechanic allows players to send out a single Pokémon into the map to battle against other wild Pokémon in automatic skirmishes. Trainers don't have to be present during these battles, and the Pokémon can still earn experience points. The specific choice to use the term "Let's Go" for a mode that is meant to make the game easier, may be a hint of what Game Freak plans to do with the casual spinoff series of the same name.
Instead of sequels, the Let's Go series could now be rolled into a recurring feature that will be included in all future generations. In the Paldea Region, the new battle mechanic is designed to make Pokémon Scarlet and Violet villains Team Star easier to defeat. This lives up to Game Freak's original reason for making Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, which was to create a gateway for casual fans to jump into the mainline Nintendo RPG series. However, instead of relying on separate titles, the Let's Go platform would now be integrated into every new Pokémon game as a mode that would allow new and casual players to jump in with ease.
A new Let's Go sequel could still be in development, as Game Freak hasn't recently announced any future spinoff projects. With the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus game's having already been released, the Nintendo developer has plenty of room to revisit past franchises. However, it is interesting that Game Freak would go out of its way to name a major Gen 9 feature after the 2018 Gen 1 remakes. With this being Let's Go's first mention in years, Game Freak's naming convention might be a nod to the spinoff becoming an integrated feature from here on out.
In the September Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gameplay trailer, the Let's Go feature is used to help the player overcome Team Star base battles. The new Gen 9 villain mechanic has trainers taking on a wave of wild Pokémon within a time limit. However, the automatic battle feature will also allow new players to explore the Paldea Region without needing to master the more complex RPG controls. The new helpful mode not only captures the spirit of the original Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee games, but makes their purpose potentially obsolete.
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