This will be a big year for Pokémon as the card-collecting, video franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary. Many fans wanted to see a Pokémon Z, but that doesn't look like that will happen in the light of Pokémon Sun and Moon. However, Pokémon GO, a mobile app/game that allows players to go to real-life locations for hunting Pokémon, is happening, and very soon.
It seems like Pokémon Z is a concept that fans will not let die. Many reports have stated that the idea of a follow-up to the successful Pokémon X and Y is under development, and maybe it is. There have been a lot of games that have been stuck in "development hell" for years, and some of them actually do get made eventually.
Most of the time, Pokémon Games have some third element tied to them, such as Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. Fans were optimistic that Pokémon X and Y would have the most obvious third tie-in, which would be the letter Z, like the Pokémon creature Zygarde. Many sources, such as Movie News Guide, say that Pokémon Z has been cancelled.
It would simply be better to talk about Pokémon games that are for sure in development, and have been formally announced. That would be Pokémon Sun and Moon, and they are planned to make their debut "sometime in 2016", which is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. Not only will these Pokémon Sun and Moon games be available for the 3DS, but the gameplay will include a fire engine, pickup truck, and ambulance, according to Neurogadget. It is also known that Pokémon characters that were caught in previous games such as the aforementioned Pokémon X and Y, Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby and the virtual console version of Yellow, Red, and Blue can be used in Pokémon Sun and Moon.
As far as Pokémon GO is concerned, fans have a lot to be excited about for this game for iOS and Android. So far, it has been known that Pokémon GO beta testing (or, in this game's case, field testing) has been happening in Japan in February. Soon after that, Niantic Japan announced that the beta testing for Pokémon GO will be happening in different areas, and it will be a slow process. This second batch of testing will be taking place in New Zealand and Australia, according to Parent Herald.
It is from the beta testing that Pokémon will fix whatever the testers complain about, and from there it is a matter of delivering it to consumers. Hopefully, Pokémon GO will finally have its release date in the summertime, when the weather is hot, and Pokémon fans can reach right out and grab Pokémon. Because when the weather is fine, you got Pokémon, you got Pokémon on your mind. Maybe Pokémon Sun and Moon will arrive before the holiday season.
