Pokemon Switch UPDATE – Nintendo Switch exclusive could bring THIS huge change

Pokemon Switch could have a release date in 2018, and when the Nintendo Switch exclusive launches it could bring with it a huge shake-up.

So far, not much is known about Pokemon Switch – apart from the fact that we do know it is coming to the Nintendo Switch at some point.

When it does arrive, it will be the first main entry in the Pokemon series released for a home console.

So far, main Pokemon games have only been released on handhelds – with home consoles getting side adventures like Pokemon Snap.

Game Freak co-founder Junichi Masuda previously explained why the core Pokemon series had, until now, just been for handhelds.

And it seems that portable consoles fitted in with the game’s central idea of ‘pocket monsters’.

Speaking back in 2011, Masuda-san said: “I think the Pokemon core series is always going to be with handheld hardware, in the future as well.

“I consider handheld hardware you can carry around with you as almost being equal to being with Pokemon, always.

“I think handheld really matches the idea of Pokemon that we have.

“Also, you can communicate and transfer data all the time, whenever you want with a handheld. That’s also a match with the Pokemon concept.”

However, thanks to the hybrid nature of the Switch, the portability that Pokemon devs seek is now also available on a Nintendo home console.

And to mark the big occasion, Pokemon developers Game Freak could be working on a reboot for the series.

The latest rumours come from an alleged insider on Twitter by the name of ‘Chinese Riddler’, Game Rant reported.

They posted about Pokemon Switch being a ‘reboot’ before shortly afterwards deleting the tweet.

However, Jynx Club managed to screen grab the tweet and posted a picture of Chinese Riddler’s information.

Alongside the screen grab, Jynx Club said: “Chinese Riddler openly posted that the Pokemon Switch title will be a reboot of the franchise. However, the thread is quickly deleted.”

Responding to a fan asking why the source should be trusted, Jynx Club added: “The Chinese Riddler probably got the most stuff correctly out of all leakers in Pokemon’s history.”

What Chinese Riddler meant by a “reboot” remains to be seen.

Does this mean that Pokemon Switch could be going back to its roots, and be set in the Kanto region of Game Boy originals Red and Blue?

Or could Pokemon Switch completely redefine what it is to be a Pokemon game much like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did?

It remains to be seen, but fans have may not have long to wait to find out, according to recent rumours.

The Japanese gaming giant could be planning on releasing Pokemon Switch in 2018, if one job advert is anything to go by.

A recently posted official Pokemon Company job listing says they are looking for a localisation expert to begin work in the next few months.

And there is one big game they had in the works that would need to be localised – Pokemon Switch.

The six month contract will start between April and June this year, which has led fans to hoping Pokemon Switch could be lined up for a late 2018 release.

Localisation tends to take place late on in a game’s development, which may mean Nintendo are putting the finishing touches right now on Pokemon Switch.

Nintendo had previously said that they were targeting a ‘2018 or later’ release for Pokemon Switch, which also backs up an imminent release date.

It remains to be seen if Pokemon Switch will arrive on the hit hybrid console this year, or next.

But if Nintendo manages to release the first main entry in the series built for home consoles this year, they could be guaranteeing huge sales figures.

NPD Analyst Mat Piscatella previously predicted the Switch could take a massive chunk of the console market share if Pokemon is released in 2018.