New Pokemon Snaphas just been given a free DLC update. Fans are very excited about this, because as much as they wanted it, there was no way to see it coming. A year ago, it seemed like a brand newPokemon Snapwas nothing more than a pipe dream. But now, it’s here, it’s well received, and it’s getting support. That support is pretty significant, too. Three brand-new stages with new styles of secret routes, and a batch of new Pokemon and old ones in new situations, were a part of this update. While it isn’t clear if this is the end ofNew Pokemon Snap’s support, just getting more than what they expected has already impressed fans a lot.
This surprise update isn’t just good forPokemon Snapfans, either.Pokemon SwordandPokemon Shieldalso had a considerable amount of post-launch support. ThePokemon SwordandShieldExpansion Pass, consisting ofThe Isle of ArmorandThe Crown Tundra, both provided hours of post-game content and new features toPokemonfans. They also added in a lot of the Pokemon that fans felt were missing from the base rosters. They essentially replaced the extra content offering that a third mainlinePokemongame in a generation would normally provide. This may indicate a trend in howPokemongames will be supported, which is good news for fans.
RELATED:Games to Play If You Like Pokemon
Pokemon and Post-Launch Support
Pokemonhas been receiving new content after its launch for a long time. As previously mentioned,Pokemonhas had a long and proud history of adding content after launch. The very firstPokemongames in Japan wereRedandGreen, which were quicklyfollowed up byPokemon Blue, which had upgraded visuals and audio. A couple years later,Pokemon Yellowwas released with a lot of new content, and the intent was to make players feel like they were playing as Ash Ketchum in the anime. Re-releases with more content have been a trend with Japanese video games, but in the modern era, the ability to release patches and expansions is making them obsolete.
Still, that only came about recently. Second versions ofPokemongames have been released up toPokemon Ultra SunandUltra Moon, the seventh generation ofPokemonand the last mainline games on Nintendo handhelds.PokemonXandYdidn’t get any expanded versions, but in their place wereremakes ofPokemon RubyandSapphire, which also served as a sort of expansion to the sixth generation competitive lineup.
Spin-offs haven’t received much in the way of updated re-releases, butPokemon Gomay have started the trend of digital updates for the series, andPokemon Unitelooks to continue it.Pokemon SwordandShieldbroke new ground for the mainline games with their Expansion Pass, and Bandai Namco’sNew Pokemon Snapfollowed up itsPokken Tournament DXas the second consolePokemonspin-off to get major updates through DLC.
RELATED:New Pokemon Snap: All Pokemon Confirmed in the New Update
The Need For Support in Pokemon
It appears that post-launch DLC is becoming normalized in thePokemonfranchise, as it should be. While “catching ‘em all” isn’t the name of the game anymore, DLC can still fill in any holes in the games’ content as development becomes more complicated, and can give fans more of any spin-off they already like.
The first priority for DLC should be filling out thePokemonroster over the course of the next couple of major consolePokemonentries.The scale ofPokemonis at the point where Game Freak can’t reliably fit everyPokemoninto every game anymore, and it needs the extra time to work on animations and modelling. IfLegendsand the generation 9Pokemongames release with incomplete rosters likeSwordandShield, morePokemoncan gradually be rolled in through DLC. It will be a slow and painful process, but it may very well be what Game Freak needs to do to innovate on its games.
Another problem that can be solved with DLC is a lack of post-game content. Thepost-game can make or break aPokemongamefor a lot of players, and many have felt that it’s been seriously lacking sinceBlack 2andWhite 2on the Nintendo DS. Others would say that the troubles had already begun by then, as the beloved Battle Frontier fromPokemon Emeraldand all of generation 4 had been phased out.
Whatever the case, the extra campaigns, maps, and modes offered inPokemon SwordandShield’s DLC were lifesavers, as those games may have had the most barren post-game yet. All the extra content and new Pokemon introduced in that DLC also shook up the competitive balance, which certainly pleased the crowd who was into that style of play.
The Future of Pokemon DLC
Pokemon’s future is a little unclear right now, but this DLC trend should definitely follow it moving forward.Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlprobably won’t receive much in the way of post-launch content, butPokemon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak’s current project, just might. With it’s new open-world format and deliberately limited pool of Pokemon, the game will be ripe for future expansion. And as mentioned above, it is in Game Freak andPokemon’s best interests for more Pokemon to be included as major games come out.
The same process can be used for the inevitable next full generation ofPokemon,and hopefully by generation 10 the roster will be in a more stable and complete state. Regular infusions of new modes, areas, and competitive changes will also help the games to stay healthy.
And thatgoes double for thePokemonspin-offs.New Pokemon Snapwas not hurting for content, but this new update has given players hours of additional content for free. That makes the game come off as more valuable and increases buyer goodwill.Pokemon GoandUnitewill continue to do their thing, but otherPokemonspin-offs should also strive to keep themselves relevant months after their release.
Even one large update within their first year can already make these games that much more appealing. With all thePokemoncontent coming out and expected to come out in the future, it’s a great time to be a fan. It’s in Game Freak and its partner developers’ interests to keep that feeling flowing.
MORE:Pokemon Sword and Shield: Will There Be More DLC?
