Today, February 27, is National Pokémon Day, and to kick things off the world got a Pokémon Presents livestream. The presentation showcased roughly 14 minutes of updates, from the current Pokémon games we’re playing today, as well as what’s in store the future. You can view the show in it’s entirety below, or read on for a quick breakdown!

To start the show off, we got an update for Pokémon GO where we get an inclusion of Pokémon from the Alola region, the setting for the 2016 3DS games Pokémon Sun and Moon, as well as their sequels Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This next wave will begin on March 1st. Until then, all players have a chance to catch Alolan Exeggutor, who is now appearing in the wild!

The next update concerns Pokémon Masters Ex, which is celebrating being live for two-and-a-half years. The Pokémon mobile game adds new content called “Victory Road,” giving you the chance to battle one of over 142 trainers currently on offer, and even allowing you to team up with the likes of classic trainers such as Red and Blue. Beginning Monday Feb 28th 6:00 UTC to Thursday March 31st at 5:59 UTC, the trainer May and her Pokémon Latias arrives with a special Anniversary outfit, along with Skyla and Tornadus and Raihan and Flygon arriving at different times during that period. As a bonus for logging in, you can scout up to 100 sync pairs at no cost until March 17, 5:59 UTC.

Next up, we get an update of Pokémon Cafe Remix featuring all new Pokémon to the game, giving all new special gimmicks to increase your chances to win in the puzzle game. A new delivery ability was even announced, giving you a chance to meet the rare Pokémon, Victini. Three special events will also be held to celebrate Pokémon Day, which include a special Bulbasaur with a new outfit, and a log in bonus for the first seven days of the event. In the second event, there’s a chance to meet a Shiny Piplup as this Pokémon will appear more frequently, from February 27 to March 2, giving a chance to recruit the rare Pokemon. The third event, which takes play from February 27 to March 9, allows you to test out the new delivery feature up to eleven times for free!

Pokémon Unite is up next with news of its update. Since last July, this game has won over many trainers, and this time around on special days in the coming month you can join in and select any Pokémon you want to join your team. A new mode that includes quick time limited battles is also now available. The Pokémon Unite website will include a schedule for those special days, giving you a chance to play on both standard battles and quick battles. With all of this comes the mythical Pokémon Hoopa joining the battle. You can currently play as Hoopa by using a limited license until March 14. After logging in, you can also receive a special Pokémon Day trainer outfit once you complete a number of events.

After the update of the mobile games, the presentation shifts focus to the console games of the present and near future. An update of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shiny Pearl announces that to commemorate Pokémon Day, you receive a letter giving the mythical Pokémon Shaymin for a limited time today only.

Pokémon: Legends Arceus was featured next, with new DLC now available for the game. The software update (ver. 1.1.0) is called Daybreak, and brings new additions to the Photo Studio, a broader outbreak of Alpha Hisuian Pokémon, and even a new boss battle of the legendary Pokémon, Dialga and Palkia. For an added bonus, you can even obtain special Pokéballs to aid you in your quest. There was even mention of a new animated series that is now in full production. The Daybreak update is free and available to check out today.

Capping off this presentation, there was one more surprise. A special announcement of the next mainline Pokémon game called Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, with the reveal of the next starter creatures: Sprigatito, a grass cat; Fuecoco, a firey Croc; and Quaxly, a duckling sporting a stylish head of hair! The game is scheduled to arrive in “Late 2022,” and takes place with a region that seems largely inspired by realife Spain and Portugal.

With this, the question is, due to the success of Pokémon: Legends Arceus, will this mean we return to the classic overhead style Pokémon games we all have known, or will we get the more open world free style that we have only so recently experienced? From the footage shown, it appears the game will share Arceus‘s open world approach, and I am personally excited about that!

Thus concludes the special Pokémon Day presentation, with its many events commemorating that special day we all decided to go out “to be the very best” and “catch ’em all.” Which part of the announcement got you most hyped? Will you be checking out the latest updates and the many Poké goodies offered to celebrate this day? Which of the new starters will you be choosing? I’m pretty much team Sprigatito! Let us know what you’re hyped about down in the comments below, and check our Facebook and Discord pages, where we celebrate and talk about all things gaming!

Source: Pokémon