Pokémon Legends: Arceus - Trailer, Plot, Release Date & News to Know

The Pokémon Company surprised fans when, during its 25th anniversary livestream, it announced two new games set in the Sinnoh region. While gamers long assumed that remakes of the Generation IV games Diamond and Pearl were in the works, the reveal of Pokémon Legends: Arceus was shocking. This appears to be a Pokémon game unlike any other with a setting and gameplay elements unlike anything that the franchise has tried before.

While the game is a ways out and not much has been said about it, what has been shown so far is exciting. Here is everything we currently know about Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

o far, most of what we know about Pokémon Legends: Arceus comes from its reveal trailer. Unlike many other reveal trailers, this actually gives a decent look at the game itself. While some have pointed out technical issues in the trailer and expressed concerns about how the game will run on Nintendo Switch, it's important to keep in mind that this is early footage from a year before the game's launch. It's safe to say the final product will be at least a bit more polished.

What Pokémon Legends: Arceus Is About

Not much has been revealed about the game's plot yet, but we do know that it will be set in a version of the Sinnoh region based on feudal Japan. It will involve players choosing between Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott, starter Pokémon that all originated in different regions that are said to have been brought to Sinnoh by a currently unnamed professor. From there, the player will set out on a journey to create Sinnoh's first Pokédex, leaving their village behind. This village is referred to as a "base," indicating players will keep returning to this location throughout the game.

As for the title Pokémon, nothing is known about Arceus' role in the game, but it is said to play a major part in the story. Given the Sinnoh region's focus on mythology and the fact that the box art shows the players looking at Mt. Coronet (which is said to be where the region began), it's almost guaranteed that players will learn more about the Mythical Pokémon said to have shaped the universe.

What We Know About Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Gameplay

Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be a massive departure from previous main-series Pokémon titles in terms of gameplay. This is an open-world action-RPG that builds upon Sword and Shield's Wild Area. Similar to Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, it looks like wild Pokémon can be caught without battling, though the series' normal turn-based battles are present.

In the trailer, we see a trainer sneaking up on a Pokémon and throwing a Poké Ball, hinting that there will be a stealth component to the game. We also see a couple of battles where the player is present but no other trainers, which indicates that wild battles will exist, though they may only be necessary for catching higher-level Pokémon that need to be weakened first. There is also a moment in the Pokémon Presents presentation where we see a player doing some kind of jump and roll down a hill, though it's not clear what purpose this will serve.

When Will Pokémon Legends: Arceus Release?

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is currently scheduled to release worldwide on January 28, 2022 for Nintendo Switch. This likely makes it Nintendo's first major release of 2022 and one of the latest release dates we currently know. While this is subject to change due to the general uncertainly of the gaming industry and the complications caused by the pandemic, The Pokémon Company has a history of sticking to announced release dates, so there's a good chance that, if it is saying anything this early, it is confident that the game will be ready in time.