Although New Pokémon Snap only released a couple of weeks ago, many players are eagerly waiting to see if new content will arrive post-launch either through DLC, a free update, or an Expansion Pass. The game, which has players going through the wilderness to take photos of Pokémon, currently features over 200 species of the series’ popular monsters. So, will more be added via DLC or an Expansion Pass in the future?
In New Pokémon Snap, players traverse multiple courses in their NEO-ONE vehicle and take photographs of a wide variety of Pokémon types. Leveling up courses and unlocking Night versions of them are one way to see more Pokémon, and rolling the credits can even get Legendary and Mythical Pokémon to appear. However, out of the series’ roster of nearly 1000 Pokémon, only 214 are currently in New Pokémon Snap.
Admittedly, this is quite an improvement over the sixty or so Pokémon that appeared in the first Snap game on the N64. However, it’s still less than a fourth of the Pokémon who have been introduced over the course of the franchise’s 25-year history. Now, an alleged datamine of New Pokémon Snap suggests more species will be added at a later time. So, how likely is it that this will actually happen?
Why New Pokémon Snap Will Probably Get More Pokémon
If this datamine is accurate, then players can expect to find new Pokémon in their game at some point in the future. However, given Nintendo’s willingness to use Expansion Passes in recent years, this possibility seems even more likely. Pokémon Sword & Shield, the last mainline entry in the series, had an Expansion Pass that added in new areas and Pokémon. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had one, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity‘s Expansion Pass releases next month. So, Nintendo could realistically introduce an Expansion Pass with DLC into New Pokémon Snap at some point post-launch.
Even if the new content wasn’t enough to warrant an Expansion Pass, Nintendo may create smaller DLC for the game. It could also simply add more Pokémon via a free update, similar to how the company recently updated Super Mario Party on the Switch. Given just how much Nintendo has updated its AAA games on Switch, it seems likely that New Pokémon Snap will have a content update eventually – even if it’s only to add in a dozen or so new Pokémon.
For now, Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed any DLC or an Expansion Pass for New Pokémon Snap. Because of this, fans will probably want to wait a bit longer before getting their hopes up for new Pokémon species in the game. However, it does seem increasingly likely that more Pokémon will be added later on.