A Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC has been in debate among fans since the games’ double release in November but, up until this moment, Nintendo has yet to confirm if the game will have a paid expansion. While it does seem like Pokémon has left the three-game release model permanently, it is still uncertain if Generation 9 will continue to expand on the lore and content introduced along with the new region of Paldea.
If the most recent games follow the previous generation’s example, players could potentially see a DLC in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The preceding mainline releases, Pokémon Sword and Shield, both received two expansions. While the first one, Isle of Armor, took players to the titular isle, The Crown Tundra, considered the best Pokémon DLC, takes them to frosty wildlands to uncover an ancient secret. Despite one being better than the other, Nintendo’s has proven adept when it comes to implementing DLC for its first-party titles.
Why Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Will Probably Have a DLC
It is quite likely that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will receive at least one DLC in the future. The two titles, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz, are the fastest-selling games in Nintendo’s console history, moving 10 million copies off the shelves in three days. Although no DLC has been announced, given its proven sales record and the pattern of past Pokémon games receiving DLC, it seems like a probability Scarlet and Violet will receive some kind of expansion in the future.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC – How The Games’ Lore Hints At Future Content
Beyond financial targets and projections, there are also lore elements to take into consideration. Among Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s many Easter eggs and secrets, one stands out: Suicune’s Paradox Past Forme and Virizion’s Paradox Future Forme seem to have had their illustrations leaked before the games even came out. Though these are leaks and should be taken in with a grain of salt, the majority of Scarlet and Violet leaks that joined those ones, such as the new Pokémon in Gen 9, were mostly correct. While they did not come out with the base game, they could still come out as Legendaries that constitute a part of a future Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC.
The biggest and most straightforward indicator that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will have a DLC, however, is a giant empty space in the map. This large unused area is in the northeastern portion of the Paldea region and access to it is impossible, since the cliff sides are unclimbable for Koraidon and Miraidon alike. Beside one of Dratini’s main habitats in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the area is painted out in stripes, similar to the way that The Great Crater of Paldea is shown in the in-game map.
Players who have gone through the main story of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet now know that The Great Crater of Paldea is accessible, with only a loading screen between the transition from the continent to the subterranean area. The striped area in Scarlet and Violet’s northeastern area could potentially be a placeholder for future content. The strange detail about it, aside from the fact that it is unclimbable, is that it is a portion of land rather than a smooth transition into the ocean, as is the case with the rest of Paldea.
Instead of finding Finizen, introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, or even the mighty and classic Gyarados, roaming the ocean, there is only a Pokémon-less area, that will possibly have an entrance once a DLC is released. Putting the leaked Paradox Legendaries and the dead zone together, it might be possible that this is the place the Pokémon fled to after escaping from the Professor’s time machine and Great Crater of Paldea.
Despite leaks and evidence to suggest a DLC is on the way, Nintendo is yet to reveal any official plans. Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra were announced in January 2020, following the base games’ releases in November 2019, so it may not take that long for players to have more details given Pokémon Scarlet and Violet both released in November as well.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz, Pokémon/YouTube
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Pokémon Scarlet and VioletFranchise: Pokemon
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Released: 2022-11-18
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
Genre: RPG, Adventure, Action
Multiplayer: Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
ESRB: E
Summary: Pokémon returns in its next installment series: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Set in a fictional town near Mediterranean Spain, gamers will explore Paldea, catching new and classic Pokémon. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is the first ever open-world game in the series and features new Pokémon that can transform into vehicles. Pokémon staples like gym battles are still present, but co-op exploration and Terastallize battles are also introduced.
How Long To Beat: 31 Hours
Prequel: Pokémon Sword and Shield
Mode: Single Player, Multiplayer
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet