The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 kicked off 2025 with a bang, further proving that this year is set to be one of the biggest the gaming industry has ever seen. Now that the Switch 2 is official, the brand-new console marks the end of an era for one of Nintendo's most popular products. It's a bittersweet realization, but the promise of a new and improved version of the long-running console is incredibly exciting.
There are plenty of questions about the Switch 2 that have yet to be answered. During the console's announcement, Nintendo confirmed that more will be revealed at an upcoming Nintendo Direct event, but what that entails is a mystery. It's highly possible that launch titles will be revealed at the planned event, but one of the most exciting features that has already been confirmed is its backwards compatibility. This feature benefits the Switch's massive roster, but it's especially helpful for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
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The Switch 2 is Good News For Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Fans
Pokémon's Ninth Generation Can Now Have an Even Greater Lifespan
As the cornerstone for Pokémon's ninth generation, Scarlet and Violet now have the opportunity to continue even further into the future, thanks to backwards compatibility. This feature extends this generation's life in a massive way, and for those who enjoy Scarlet and Violet, this is great news for post-launch content, as well.
Nintendo's planned Nintendo Direct event centered around the Switch 2 is scheduled to air on April 2. Throughout the month of April, Nintendo will also host Switch 2 Experience events in major cities across the globe.
Scarlet and Violet Can Keep Up the Momentum Ahead of Gen 10
Even though Scarlet and Violet are barely over two years old at this point, there have already been plenty of rumors about Pokémon's tenth generation. As of now, every point of speculation surrounding the next generation is purely rumor and should be taken with a heavy grain of salt. However, now that the Switch 2 is a reality, it's safe to assume that the next Pokémon game is being developed for the upcoming console. There has yet to be any release date revealed for Scarlet and Violet's follow-up, though, so the continuation of the current generation is good news for Pokémon fans who were concerned about a potential content drought.
There has been plenty of speculation regarding the Switch 2's launch roster, and while a tenth gen Pokémon game is possible, it's unlikely. Since there is no telling when a new game will arrive, Scarlet and Violet now have plenty of room to continue giving players post-launch content that ramps up more excitement for the Switch 2's first exclusive Pokémon title.
While the Switch 2 is backwards compatible, Nintendo has confirmed that there will be a select few games that will not be supported by the new console. These titles have yet to be revealed.
The Switch 2 Brings Even More Excitement to a Packed Year
Even before the Switch 2 was announced, 2025 was already set to be a massive year for gaming. Between titles like GTA 6, Ghost of Yotei, Borderlands 4, and Doom: The Dark Ages, 2025 was already overflowing with great releases. Now that Nintendo has skin in the game, the year is bound to be a historical one for the gaming industry.
So, even though Pokémon's tenth gen game may be further off into the future, Scarlet and Violet are likely to be given a much longer life than once anticipated. As the Switch 2 gets closer to release, it will be interesting to see what post-launch content comes to Scarlet and Violet in order to keep this current generation exciting in the midst of a fresh console.

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
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- Top Critic Rating: 71/100 Critics Recommend: 47%
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- November 18, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 32 Hours
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- X|S Optimized
- no
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- Cross Save
- no
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
- Video Games
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
- Nintendo Switch 2
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