BothPokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!andLet’s Go Eevee!have changed the series' formula quite a bit. DespitePokémon Go’s influence, Director Junichi Masuda confirms that the two new Nintendo Switch games are not just spin-offs.
As reported byNintendo Everything, in an interview, Masuda statesPokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!andLet’s Go Eevee!“aren’t just spin-offs” and are indeed “core Pokémon titles.” There is also some potential for the game’s Pokémon Go functionality to make its way to future Pokémon games. Here is the full statement:
“These games aren’t spin-offs. These are corePokemontitles. As for whether we would make other games that could connect toPokemon GO, that will depend on how the games are received. If we hear a lot of people saying that they enjoyed being able to bringPokemonto these games fromPokemon GO, then we’ll think about maybe having future titles also be able to connect to it.”
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!andLet’s Go Eevee!launched July 25, 2025. Although it is a remake of 1998’sPokémon Yellow, it deviates from the traditional gameplay mechanics from previous games. The latestPokémonadventure takes some notes from Niantic’s popular mobile gamePokémon Go, namely in catching the pocket monsters. It also removed random encounters and battles with wild pokémon.
Another prominent feature inPokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! andLet’s Go Eevee!is its integration with Pokémon Go. What was once the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City is now Go Park. This is where you will transfer your caught pokémon from Pokémon Go toPokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!andLet’s Go Eevee!. However, you will still need to catch them in the park after the transfer is complete.
WhilePokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!andLet’s Go Eevee!deviated from the norm, it certainly didn’t stop people from buying it.Collectively selling 3 million units in just its launch week, the pair not only became the most successful launch for thePokémonseries but also the best first-week release in Nintendo Switch’s history.That success continued during the Thanksgiving shopping weekwhere the two titles hit combined U.S. sales of more than 1.5 million since its launch.
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!andLet’s Go Eevee!are available now for Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned to read our review very soon.
