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Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire species are coming to Pokémon GO this week【Video】

Casey Baseel Dec 7, 2017
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Thought you’d already caught ‘em all? Think again, and keep on eye on the game’s new dynamic weather gameplay system while you’re hunting.

Nintendo usually waits a couple of years between publishing sequels to the mainline Pokémon video game series, with each new installment featuring a new collection of Pocket Monsters from a previously unexplored region of the franchise’s world. Niantic is moving things along at a quicker pace, though, as users keep clamoring for more creatures to catch in mobile game phenomenon Pokémon GO.

So after the game’s launch in the summer of last year, Niantic added in more than 80 Johto Region Pokémon in February, corresponding with the collectible cast of Pokémon Gold and Silver. And for everyone who’s already caught them all, starting this week you’ll be able to find Hoenn Region Pokémon, from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, in Pokémon GO.

Niantic will be mixing in the new Pocket Monsters gradually, with Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip in the first group. Also shown off in the preview video are Salamence, Shiftry, Aggron, Ludicolo, and Legendary Pokémon Groudon.

▼ It’s kind of funny that the English version of the video has a “Simulated Game Footage” disclaimer present at the bottom left of the screen at all times…

▼ …while the Japanese version assumes you’re smart enough, after a brief warning at the video’s start, to realize Pokémon won’t actually be appearing in your surrounding physical environment.

In the above shot, you’ll notice an umbrella icon, which is a reference to the new “dynamic weather” being added to Pokémon GO’s gameplay. Niantic says that local weather conditions will be reflected in the in-game graphics, and also affect the encounter rate and attack effectiveness of different Pokémon species, saying that, for example, on a rainy day Water-type Mudkip will be easier to find, while fire-based attacks will get a power boost on sunny days.

▼ Niantic lists six possible in-game weather conditions (sunny, rainy, snowy, foggy, partly cloudy, and windy)

Niantic hasn’t specified exactly how many Hoenn Region Pocket Monsters are going to be part of the update, but on their release Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire ushered 135 new species into the Poké-pantheon, so completionist players are likely to have their hands full once again.

Source: YouTube/Pokémon GO, Pokémon GO official website
Top image: YouTube/Pokémon GO
Insert images: YouTube/Pokémon GO, YouTube/Pokémon GO Japan
[ Read in Japanese ]

Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s now tempted to write “Simulated Game Footage” on every picture of himself.