Last updated on January 16, 2025
With the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 just last Thursday, it feels like the perfect moment to talk about another big passion of mine. You’ve already read about my love for football—especially Ajax—but now it’s time to dive into something that’s been a part of my life for even longer: Pokémon.
Ever since the franchise launched in the Netherlands, I’ve been hooked. From playing the games to collecting the cards, Pokémon has been a constant source of joy and inspiration for me. Even after all these years, I’m still a huge fan of the series.
Over time, the Pokémon franchise has evolved in many ways, and it’s exciting to imagine where it could go next. Today, I want to share my thoughts on how the Pokémon brand could grow and improve, keeping it fresh for longtime fans like me while appealing to new generations of Trainers.
Improve The Shiny Pokémon Concept
Shiny Pokémon are special variations with a different color palette compared to their original forms, making them sought-after gems for Trainers, including myself. I can’t tell you the amount of hours I’ve spend into hunting for specific shiny Pokémon. However, some shiny Pokémon have color differences so subtle that they’re nearly impossible to distinguish from their regular counterparts. That brings me to my first recommendation: make shiny Pokémon stand out with significantly different and vibrant color schemes.
I get that back in the early days of Pokémon, technical limitations made creating unique shiny designs challenging. But with today’s advanced technology, there’s no reason for these differences to be so hard to spot. Trainers shouldn’t have to squint or second-guess whether they’ve encountered a shiny Pokémon. Let their alternate forms shine—literally and figuratively—by giving them bold and creative color designs that truly set them apart!
Adding to that, it’s crucial to bring back the visual and auditory cues that signal the presence of a shiny Pokémon. In recent games, the absence of a distinct sound or animation when encountering a shiny has led to countless missed opportunities, with players later realizing they unknowingly passed one by. With shiny Pokémon already being rare to encounter, it should never be possible to miss them due to lack of feedback.
The technology is there—use it! Ensure shiny Pokémon always make an entrance with an unmistakable sound or animation, so their rarity feels even more rewarding. Let them shine as they were meant to!
Multiple Save Files
Whenever I start a new Pokémon game, I aim to complete it 100%. But sometimes, I’m in the mood for a challenge run—whether it’s a Nuzlocke, a themed team playthrough, or revisiting an older game with fresh eyes. Unfortunately, to do this currently, you either have to create a second account on your Nintendo Switch or buy the second version of the game. While I already buy the second version for my collection, it shouldn’t be necessary to go out of my way just to start a new save file.
The solution? Give us at least three save file slots. With this small feature, you could have one main slot for your completed playthrough and two additional slots to use however you’d like. Whether for challenge runs, experimenting with different teams, or sharing the game with family or friends, these extra slots would provide flexibility and convenience.
If you decide to use one of these slots for a challenge, you can always delete it and start a new one without touching your main game. It’s a simple change, but one I’m sure many players would deeply appreciate. Sometimes, it’s the little features like this that can make a huge difference in a game’s quality of life.
More Communication With The Community
One of the most underrated aspects of a successful franchise is how well it communicates with its community—not just when things go wrong and need fixing, but also to keep fans informed and engaged. It’s easy to stay communicative when you’re just starting out and need to build a community, but maintaining that connection is equally important when you already have a massive, loyal fanbase.
Take Pokémon, for example. Right now, everyone is eagerly anticipating the release of the next big title, Pokémon Legends ZA. On Pokémon Day, it was announced that the game would release in 2025, but since then, it’s been radio silence. While I understand the need to keep certain details under wraps, small updates here and there would go a long way in keeping fans engaged and excited.
Historically, Pokémon tends to communicate with fans during Pokémon Day and occasionally through Pokémon Direct presentations—typically around August. But last year, there was no Pokémon Direct, and official communication was notably quiet. For a franchise with such a passionate fanbase, staying silent for extended periods risks losing the excitement and connection that keeps players coming back.
If Pokémon improves its communication strategy in the coming years—sharing even small updates or sneak peeks regularly—it could help maintain their dedicated fanbase while drawing in new Trainers. Fans want to feel like part of the journey, and consistent updates are an easy way to build excitement and trust within the community.
Take Your Time
Pokémon has grown into such a massive franchise that it feels like there’s always something new on the horizon. A new TCG set is announced every few months, new game generations typically release within three years, and don’t even get me started on the constant wave of new merch. While it’s exciting to have so much content to look forward to, I think it’s important for the franchise to slow down and take its time when needed.
The challenge, of course, lies in their interconnected ecosystem—particularly the need to align game releases with the anime. But in recent years, the games themselves have often felt rushed. Instead of sticking to a rigid release cycle simply because it’s tradition, I’d much prefer to see Pokémon take the time to polish their games, ensuring that the final product is solid, engaging, and finished.
That doesn’t mean going silent in the meantime, though. Keep the community updated along the way with sneak peeks, developer updates, or behind-the-scenes insights. Fans would appreciate the transparency and feel more invested in the process, even if it takes a little longer to get the final product.
At the end of the day, quality always wins over speed. A well-made, thoughtfully crafted game will resonate with fans for years, while a rushed release is often remembered for all the wrong reasons. Take your time, Pokémon—we’ll be here waiting, excited as ever.
These are just four of my recommendations, but I could easily keep going and turn this into an even longer read. Maybe I’ll save that for a future blog, where I’ll dive into more ideas and tips for improving the Pokémon franchise.
For now, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you agree with these points, or do you have different ideas for what Pokémon could focus on in the (near) future? Let’s start a conversation—what would you like to see from this iconic series as it continues to evolve?