Generation
- If you were looking for the TCG expansion released to commemorate the 20th Anniversary, see Generations (TCG). For the animated miniseries, see Pokémon Generations.
A generation[1][2][3][4][5][6] (Japanese: 世代 generation) is an informal grouping of the Pokémon games that separates them based on when they released. In each generation, a new region and set of Pokémon that did not exist in the previous generation are introduced. A generation may introduce remakes of games from a previous generation. There are currently ten generations.
The term "generation" has been originally used by fans, with the first known use in official media being a 2007 trailer for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.[citation needed] Although not all generation numbers have been officially confirmed, some have been mentioned by official sources and by Pokémon staff, including Generations IV, VI, and IX.[7][8][9]
Core series games
Within the core series games, generations are typically indicative of compatibility. Usually, Pokémon can freely be moved between games within a single generation, and can be sent forward to the next generation (but then can usually never return). Until Generation VII, games of the same generation could also link battle with each other, but cross-generation link battles have never been possible.
- The Generation I and II games can trade Pokémon via Time Capsule.
- The Generation I and II games were unable to interact with later generations until their Virtual Console releases; in those releases, they can send Pokémon (forward only) to Generation VII onwards.
- From Generation III to VII, Pokémon can be sent forward to the next generation via various different features (dual-slot mode, Pal Park, Poké Transfer, Poké Transporter, and Pokémon Bank), but can never return to the previous generation once sent.
- Within Generation VII, while it is possible for Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon to trade and battle with each other, those games cannot communicate with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! at all.
- In Generation VIII and IX, Pokémon can be freely moved between games (regardless of generation) via Pokémon HOME.
- Pokémon from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! can be stored in Pokémon HOME, but if they ever travel to a game other than a Let's Go game, they can never return to a Let's Go game.
- From Generation VIII onward, it is no longer standard for games of the same generation to be able to directly trade or battle each other. Instead, almost all communication between them must be done via Pokémon HOME.
- Pokémon caught or transferred to Pokémon Legends: Z-A cannot be sent to previous Nintendo Switch titles, unlike other core series games compatible with Pokémon HOME.
List
References
- ↑ "Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version will feature a new generation of amazing Pokémon [...]" - A New Generation of Pokémon... An All-New Adventure! - Pokémon.com (archived)
- ↑ "Pokémon X and Pokémon Y presents a new generation of Pokémon and introduces players to an exciting new adventure in a breathtaking 3D world." - Pokémon X and Pokémon Y - Pokémon.com
- ↑ "These fascinating Alola region characters and Pokémon will appear in the latest generation of Pokémon video games that will launch in North America on November 18." - Z-MOVES AND ALOLAN POKÉMON VARIANTS ANNOUNCED FOR POKÉMON SUN AND POKÉMON MOON! - Pokémon.com
- ↑ "Newest Generation of Pokémon Core Series Games coming to Nintendo 3DS Late 2016" - New Pokémon Games Announced via Pokémon Direct] - Pokémon Official Press Site
- ↑ "Catch up with a new generation in the Pokémon TCG: Sword & Shield expansion!" - Sword & Shield - Pokémon.com
- ↑ "Defeat powerful legacy Trainers from various generations." - The 1st Anniversary Celebration Continues! | Pokémon UNITE - YouTube
- ↑ "#Gen4" - a post on Junichi Masuda's Twitter
- ↑ "Pokémon X and Pokémon Y–the evolved sixth generation of Pokémon." - No.233 - Junichi Masuda's blog
- ↑ "9th Generation" - Game Freak greeting card, Yusuke Kozaki's Twitter