While it is a surprising move with E3 just around the corner Pokemon has officially announced the release dates for their highly anticipated upcoming releases. All three titles are releasing on the Nintendo Switch, although fans are already familiar with one set of games.

Pokemon Legends Arceus is the fresher release which will be the most ambitious Pokemon game on console to date.  It will release on January 28 2022 and is set to be more of an open-world RPG-style Pokemon game.  This is a departure from the tried and true formula of the past few Pokemon games which featured a much more linear style of gameplay.

The Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, will rerelease on November 19 2021.  These two titles originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2006 and sold quite well compared to some of the prior Pokemon releases reaching a total of 18 million units sold worldwide.  The award winning games were a commercial and critical hit that successfully brought the series to a new platform and outselling its contemporaries.

Last Word On Gaming Viewpoint

The Autumn release for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will put nostalgia to the test in the Christmas season as one would expect both games to be big favorites among children and young adults who played the originals 15 years ago.  Pokemon Legend Arceus getting a January release seems like an odd choice as it not only misses the festive season but releases at a time when most people are in saving mode following the holidays.  Whether this decision hurts the experimental game or is an obstacle that Arceus can overcome remains to be seen but from my standpoint, it seems like Arceus could be set up to fail with a January release just two months after Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl release.