Every year, Niantic hosts an event inPokemon GOto commemorate the release ofPokemon Red and Blue, the first installments in thePokemonfranchise. These events, which are calledPokemon GOTours, usually take place in the month of February and often come in multiple forms. SomePokemon GOTours are only available in certain cities around the world, while others are accessible to all players worldwide. Players who want to attend the in-person events must pay for a ticket to access all the digital goodies that participants can receive, such as new Pokemon, Pokemon Eggs, Raid Passes, exclusive medals, Catch Candies, and more.
EachPokemon GOTour is themed around a specific region from the mainlinePokemongames. In 2023, Niantic hosted Tours that featured Pokemon from Hoenn, and in 2024, it held events that were centered around Sinnoh. Next year, though, thePokemon GOTours are going to take players to Unova, the New York-inspired region that serves as the primary setting for the fifth-generationPokemongames,Black and WhiteandBlack 2 and White 2. Since Niantic tends to choose regions for thePokemon GOTours based on their chronological appearance in the corePokemongames, the next event being set in Unova isn’t very surprising. Still, the fact that this region is finally getting some recognition from The Pokemon Company again may indicate that aPokemon Black and Whiteremake is on the horizon.
From February 21 to 23, 2025, players who reside in Los Angeles and New Taipei City will be able to participate inPokemon GoTour: Unova.Pokemon GOfans all around the world will then have the opportunity to experience the event in the following week, from March 1 to 2.
Pokemon Go’s Unova Tour Could Be a Sign of Things to Come for the Franchise
Remakes Are a Staple of the Pokemon Series
Mainline installments in thePokemonfranchise are usually remade once every few years. The firstPokemongames to get the remake treatment werePokemon Red and Blue, which were rebuilt from the ground up inPokemon FireRed and LeafGreenon the Game Boy Advance. Following the release of these games, all subsequent Nintendo handhelds received aPokemonremake of some sort. TheNintendo DS hadPokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver(remakes of the 1999 titlesPokemon Gold and Silver) and the Nintendo 3DS gotPokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire(remakes of 2002’sPokemon Ruby and Sapphire).
The Switch is unique among Nintendo’s handhelds, as it is the only console that The Pokemon Company has released twomainlinePokemonremakesfor. In 2018, Game Freak and TPC releasedPokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, which were from-the-ground-up remakes ofPokemon Yellow. The Pokemon Company then launchedPokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearlon the Switch in 2021. As their names suggest, these games were remakes of the fourth-generationPokemongames,Diamond and Pearl.
Pokemon Yellowitself was an enhanced re-release ofPokemon Red and Bluefor the Game Boy Color.
A Pokemon Black and White Remake for the Switch 2 Makes Perfect Sense
Since the first four generations of mainlinePokemongames have all received 3D remakes by now, it seems safe to assume thatPokemon Black and Whitewill be remadenext. However, the fact thatB&Ware the only mainlinePokemoninstallments with direct sequels may complicate the matter somewhat. If The Pokemon Company does decide to remakeB&W, it would have to remakeB2&W2, as well. It would otherwise be strange for them to omit half the storyline of the fifth-genPokemongames.
Given that theNintendo Switch 2 is set to be announcedwithin the next three months, it’s extremely unlikely that a hypotheticalPokemon Black and Whiteremake will be released as a Switch exclusive. The Pokemon Company will probably want to prioritize its development efforts on Nintendo’s next console, since it’s apparently going to be far more powerful than the current Switch. Maybe if aPokemon Black and Whiteremake is designed specifically for the Switch 2, it will have modern, PS4-level graphics that makePokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearllook dated by comparison.
WHERE TO PLAY
Now you can battle other Pokémon GO trainers online! Try the GO Battle League today. Join Trainers across the globe who are discovering Pokémon as they explore the world around them. Pokémon GO is the global gaming sensation that has been downloaded over 1 billion times and named “Best Mobile Game” by the Game Developers Choice Awards and “Best App of the Year” by TechCrunch
UNCOVER THE WORLD OF POKÉMON: Explore and discover Pokémon wherever you are! CATCH more Pokémon to complete your Pokédex! JOURNEY alongside your Buddy Pokémon to help make your Pokémon stronger and earn rewards! COMPETE in epic Gym battles and… TEAM UP and UNITE with other Trainers to catch powerful Pokémon during Raid Battles!It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await! Let’s GO
