SincePokemon ScarletandVioletcame hot off the heels ofPokemon Legends: Arceusand with recent datamining confirming fans' suspicions that the latter would eventually factor into Gen 9, it’s become clear that there were underlying clues that pointed to Hisuian DLC would come to Paldea. After the success of the spin-off that radically reshaped players' expectations of futurePokemongames, many were anticipating that the followingPokemon ScarletandVioletgames would in some way pay tribute toPokemon Legends: Arceus. But while Hisuian regional variants will eventually arrive in Paldea, there could be bigger DLC plans at work.
The potential for DLC inScarletandVioletis substantial, with many players sharing theories about a grayed-out upper-right portion of Paldea’s map being a possible land bridge toKalos last seen inPokemon XandY. Despite this, recent datamines have revealed that Hisuian regional variants were inScarletandViolet’s code, which turned speculation onto how these supposedly-extinct Pokemon would return to the present day. But just as the Hisuian Pokemon had been hidden in the base game, so too are there hints as to how Game Freak could have already set up possible Hisuian DLC.
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Early Signs Pointed Towards Hisui
As a follow-up in open-world design toLegends: Arceus, players had been anticipating thatScarletandVioletwould take cues from its predecessor to both inform its own design and pay tribute for the groundwork it established. Though there’s been a mixed response to the changes made between these games, fans did at least spot and appreciate thehidden references toLegends: Arceus’Professor Laventonand the Hisuian Pokeball. But while players needed to go out of their way and attend academy classes to find this Easter egg, it was the first explicit sign that Game Freak was conscious of reintroducingLegends: Arceusto Gen 9.
From here, it’s possible to start identifying and piecing together other clues that Hisui was already planned as additional content forScarletandViolet.For instance, almost every singlePokemon that received regional variants and evolutionsinLegends: Arceuswas included within the Paldean Pokedex, none of which were made to be version exclusives. This was likely the earliest indication behind-the-scenes that Game Freak was planning to add Hisuian Pokemon at a later date, as it circumvented the need to introduce the original forms alongside their Hisuian counterparts. The only remaining obstacle was canon and how Hisui could be asynchronously brought to Paldea.
The Way Home For Hisui
Whether this was intentional or just a happy accident,ScarletandViolet’sendgame storyline “The Way Home” and the canon it introduced provide all the groundwork needed to bring Hisui to the present day. For as much asScarletandViolet’sParadox Pokemonwere anomalies out of time, so too would Hisuian Pokemon be, meaning that they too could arrive the same way that these other ancient and future forms did: via Area Zero’s time machine. Though some adjustments would be needed sincePokemonViolet’stime machine went to the future and not the past, it’s the perfect entry point for Hisuian DLC.
Therefore, Hisuian DLC could be introduced toScarletandVioletvia Area Zero instead of something like the would-be Kalos land bridge. As the last area explored in-game and consequently underused save for roaming Paradox Pokemon, using this location as a springboard for DLC would not only give a new use for the area, but it would avoid complicating the main games' original storylines. Moreover,Area Zero is still shrouded in mysterywith additional Paradox Pokemon planned for legendary trios and the unknown cause of Terastallization, so adding Hisuian DLC to the mix could provide more depth toScarletandViolet’stime travel twist.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
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