Future generations of Pokémon

This article is composed of fan speculation. There is no solid evidence for or against it.

It is not yet known if there will be future generations of the Pokémon franchise. However, it has been indicated in the past, that not every Pokémon in the world has been discovered yet, and regions to which unknown Pokémon are native are likely to be revealed gradually. The Pokémon franchise remains very profitable for Nintendo and is currently the second best selling video-game franchise, second only to the Mario franchise (which also belongs to Nintendo), meaning that the end of the series is likely still far away.

Speculation for features of new generations

Currently, there are four generations of Pokémon games, each with their own set of then-new Pokémon, moves and several other things that have become the pattern of the main series so far. Although nothing is known at this time about a possible Generation V or beyond, the patterns which have applied to all four current generations are expected to continue to hold true in the future.

What is so far assumed from the patterns that have run from Generation I to the present about Generation V and beyond is as follows:

• Initially, there will be two versions of the new game, which will differ in capture rates and version exclusives. A more extensive third version will be released some time later, in which most Pokémon previously exclusive to one of the two versions will be available, but other Pokémon found in both versions will be missing. In the third version, the outfits of the player characters and rival will likely change. There will also probably be an extension to the plot in the third version.
  • Evidence: The three-version formula has been used in every generation, although there remains no third version to Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen or Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and there are four games in Generation I. However, this is most likely because the former games were remakes of the Generation I games and the latter game was only released in Japan. Since Generation III, the player characters have gotten an outfit change in the third version.
• A new region will be explored. It will be geographically similar to a real-life region in Japan.
  • Evidence: Each of the four generations has been centered in a new region relative to its time: Kanto in Generation I, Johto in Generation II, Hoenn in Generation III, and Sinnoh in Generation IV. The similarities to Japan's regions are noted here.
• A previously unknown Pokémon professor will reside in this region and have new Grass-type, Fire-type, and Water-type Pokémon available for the player to select for his or her adventure. The professor will be named after a tree in the English version.
  • Evidence: Professors Oak, Elm, Birch, Rowan and their starter Pokémon.
• More new Pokémon will be introduced. Some may be evolved forms or pre-evolutions of Pokémon now known. The amount of new Pokémon introduced will likely not be below 100 or above 150, while standard Pokémon formulas will likely be followed, with a new Normal Pokémon and a new Normal/Flying Pokémon available on the early routes in the region.
  • Evidence: Each generation after the first has introduced at least two Pokémon related to those of previous generations. The amount of Pokémon released each generation has never dipped below 100 (with Generation II has) and never gone over 150, excluding Generation I with its secret Pokémon Mew.
• The new regional Pokédex will begin with the starter Pokémon and their evolutionary kin as #001-#009, in the order of Grass-Fire-Water. It will lack at least some Pokémon. The National Pokédex numbers of new Pokémon will start with #494 for the Grass-type starter and continue on at least up to #593 if at least 100 Pokémon are added.
  • Evidence: Hoenn's regional Pokédex leaves out 184 Pokémon. Sinnoh's regional Pokédex leaves out 342 Pokémon in Diamond and Pearl and 283 Pokémon in Platinum. Starter Pokémon are always the first in the National Pokédex section of their generation.
• The new region may feature new evolutions of Eevee and new Fossil Pokémon.
  • Evidence: Both have happened in three out of the four released generations.
• There will be eight Pokémon Gyms and an Elite Four, of which each will specialize in a specific elemental type, and a Champion at the end of the Elite Four. There will also be an evil team that the player will battle and eventually defeat after a battle with its leader.
  • Evidence: This is part of the standard version formula.
• There will be an anime season or series. In it Ash will travel to a new region, bringing his Pikachu, and will capture the resident bird Pokémon and at least one Starter Pokémon. He will have a team consisting of Pikachu, the bird Pokémon, a Water-type Pokémon, a Grass-type Pokémon, a Fire-type Pokémon, and another Pokémon. He will challenge the Gyms of the region. He may receive new traveling companions, and might get a new outfit made by his mother at the beginning of the new series
  • Evidence: This has happened to every main game and generation since Red and Blue in Generation I.
• There will be some new manga produced, some Pokémon Adventures chapters written, and new TCG cards created.
  • Evidence: This has happened to every main game and generation since Red and Blue in Generation I.
• Pikachu will be found in the new region.
  • Evidence: This series mascot can be caught in every portable Pokémon game, except Pokémon Yellow where it is the starter.
• The evolutionary families of Geodude, Abra, Zubat, Machop, Psyduck, Goldeen, Tentacool, Magikarp, and possibly Magnemite and Rhyhorn will be included within the new region.
  • Evidence: There has not been one sea route yet where Magikarp or Tentacool/Tentacruel hasn't been found. Magikarp is always catchable with the Old Rod as well. Goldeen is a common fishing Pokémon, while Zubat and Geodude or their evolutions can be found in nearly every cave, along with Machop and occasionally Abra. Psyduck is common around lakes or in Safari Zones. Magnemite may also be included near an industrial area, while Rhyhorn or its evolutions may find their way at the very least into the region's Victory Road, though these two were not in the original Sinnoh Dex.
• There will be at least one legendary trio in the next generation, as well as at least one Über legendary and one event Pokémon. In total, there will possibly be more than 14 new legendary Pokémon.
  • Evidence: Generation I has exactly one of each of the above, and all subsequent generations have expanded on this number in some way. The number of new legendaries has increased for each Generation: 5 in Generation I, 6 in Generation II, 10 in Generation III and 14 in Generation IV.
• The new generation will be playable on a new handheld game system.
  • Evidence: Every new generation so far has been released for the newest Nintendo handheld console relative to its time.
    • Pokémon Red, Blue Green and Yellow for the Game Boy.
    • Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal for the Game Boy Color.
    • Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald for the Game Boy Advance.
    • Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver for the Nintendo DS.
• The new generation will introduce some new battling mechanics, and will likely have graphical improvements.
  • Evidence: This has happened in every generation since the first.
    • Gen II: Introduced a split in Special into Special Attack and Special Defense, as well as other additions, such as weather conditions and held items. Also, introduced animated sprites and slightly better graphics.
    • Gen III: Introduced abilities, and reorganized EVs and IVs. Graphics were greatly improved from Gen II as well.
    • Gen IV: Redefined the difference between physical and special moves. Introduced 3D environments and made graphics more realistic and less cartoony.
• Before the first duo of games is released, at least three Pokémon of the next generation will appear in the anime first, at least one of which will appear prior to their official debut or fairly unannounced. As of late, they will likely debut in a movie, then possibly shortly afterwards be captured by a main character.
  • Evidence: This has happened to every generation yet aside from the first:
    • Gen II: Ho-Oh in Pokémon - I Choose You!, Togepi in Who Gets To Keep Togepi?, Marill and Snubbull in Pikachu's Vacation, Donphan in Mewtwo Strikes Back, and Lugia and Slowking in The Power of One.
    • Gen III: Kecleon in The Kecleon Caper, Wynaut in Beauty is Skin Deep, Azurill in Pikachu's PikaBoo, and Blaziken in Pop Goes the Sneasel.
    • Gen IV: Munchlax in Destiny Deoxys, Lucario, Bonsly, Mime Jr., and Weavile in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and Buizel, Chatot, Mantyke, and Manaphy in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
• Somewhere between the beginning of the main games and the third Gym will be a forest/woods. The area will most likely be named according to a nearby town.
  • Evidence: Every generation has had some sort of forest or woods, with Ilex Forest of the Johto region being the only one not named after a nearby location.
• There will be at least 20 numbered routes within the games. These include surfing routes, among other things. There will also be at least one cave as well as a Victory Road.
  • Evidence: There has been a cave, sea route, and at least 19 other routes in every main game. Victory Road is always the final test for Trainers before reaching the regional Pokémon league.
• The introduced legendary trio will have a master, though it will not necessarily be introduced in that generation, and may in fact be introduced in the following one.
  • Evidence: The legendary birds of Generation I have Lugia, the legendary beasts of Generation II have Ho-Oh, the legendary golems of Generation III have Regigigas, and the lake guardians and dragon trio of Generation IV have Arceus.

Speculation against future generations

• Legendary Pokémon typically have a backstory that supersedes those of previous generations. As Arceus is the creator of the Pokémon universe, the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 720, some believe that Pokémon cannot grow more powerful.
  • At the time, however, Mewtwo was the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 590 (changed to 680 in Generation II and onward) in Generation I.
• Professor Rowan has stated that 90% of Pokémon are related to at least one other by means of evolution. While currently true, adding too many new evolutions for Pokémon in a future generation would throw this balance off.
• Historical trends suggest that a new portable game system at least a year before the introduction of the generation that would use that handheld. The Nintendo DS remains Nintendo's centerpiece, however, and a successor has not yet been announced.
  • However, there has been recent leaked information regarding a successor of the Nintendo DS that is likely to come out by the end of 2010.
• No Generation V Pokémon have been introduced yet, while some Pokémon from each of the previous new generations have been seen in the anime some time before their game debuts.
• Generation IV has lasted nearly as long as Generation III, and will have lasted longer than all previous generations if Generation V's debut games are not released before August 6, 2010 in Japan. While Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver were officially announced in May of the year of their September release, Diamond and Pearl were first revealed to be in the works in June of 2005, nearly a year and a half before their Japanese release.

See also

• History of Pokémon
• Generation I
• Generation II
• Generation III
• Generation IV

This article is a part of Project Fandom, a Bulbapedia Project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every aspect of the Pokémon Fandom.