Simply earlier than the 12 months started, the Pocket Techniques group sat all the way down to provide you with our 2024 predictions for the world of cell and handheld gaming. It was a distinct time – Zenless Zone Zero was nonetheless in beta, Pokémon was nonetheless releasing content material for Scarlet and Violet, and we knew even much less in regards to the Nintendo Change 2 than we all know immediately.
So, we used our unimaginable senses of gamer instinct blended with a whole lot of wishful considering to foretell what 2024 may need in retailer for us, and we locked these predictions away for the 12 months. Now, I’m right here to see simply how proper (or extra precisely, how very, very fallacious) our predictions have been, so buckle up for a wild experience.
Unsurprisingly, virtually each member of the Pocket Techniques group had one thing to say in regards to the Nintendo Change 2, and nearly all of us have been fully fallacious. Ruby, Pocket Techniques Editor, was extremely optimistic, considering that we’d get a Change 2 reveal within the first half of 2024, however as an alternative, simply as Employees Author Holly predicted, we’re no nearer to discovering out what Nintendo’s subsequent house console will appear to be.
Nevertheless, based mostly on Nintendo’s many “please don’t ask us in regards to the Change’s successor” tweets, we’ve not obtained lengthy to attend now for some concrete info. Apparently, ex-Employees Author James steered that the Nintendo Change 2’s Pleasure-Cons can be the one main change for the console, and we’ve got seen rumors that the successor is switching to magnetic controllers fairly than utilizing the present Pleasure-Con rail system. We actually hope that our current controllers will nonetheless work although – these items are costly!
On the finish of 2023, if we weren’t speculating in regards to the Nintendo Change 2, we have been serious about the Zenless Zone Zero launch date. With Ruby predicting an October launch and James claiming that Hoyoverse would delay the ARPG, we have been all pleasantly stunned by the July drop. In case you’ve learn our Zenless Zone Zero assessment you then’ll know that we love this city journey simply as a lot as Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Influence, and we’re glad it made its technique to our telephones in 2024.
Despite the fact that we’ve seen the official Genshin Influence Change trailer, we’re unsure that it’s ever going to occur, so as an alternative, Holly predicted that ZZZ can be the primary Hoyo title to make the bounce to Nintendo’s console. It hasn’t occurred but, however we’re pretty sure that Zenless Zone Zero’s Change – or Change 2 – debut is on the playing cards because of the VHS-themed cartridge instances that Hoyoverse gifted us, and ZZZ producer Zhenyu Li’s assertion that the group needs the sport on “on all platforms.”
Lastly, I made the daring assertion that Netease’s Venture Mugen, which is now referred to as Ananta, would outperform Zenless Zone Zero. After all, this didn’t occur as Ananta remains to be nowhere to be seen, however we’re predicting a 2025 Ananta launch date and have an interest to see which of those two city exploration RPGs comes out on high.
I knew it was an extended shot to even counsel a gen 5 Pokémon remake, however somebody needed to attempt to manifest it. Pokémon Black and White and their sequels are a number of the most costly DS video games on the market and I by no means owned a replica, so I’m determined for a brand new technique to go to Unova. Sadly, it wasn’t on the playing cards for 2024, however I’m nonetheless holding out hope for some information within the new 12 months.
In spite of everything, the newest Pokémon Go season, Twin Future, options tons of Unovan Pokémon and makes use of black and white in its emblem. One Pokémon Go occasion isn’t sufficient to go on, however because of Pokébeach we now know that the Pokémon TCG is getting two Unova-themed expansions in June referred to as Black Daring and White Flare, for seemingly no purpose. Pokémon TCG units usually comply with the videogame’s launch schedule, with units like Astral Radiance and Misplaced Origin lining up with Legends: Arceus up to now, so I’ve obtained the whole lot crossed that we’ll return to Unova quickly.
The gen 5 remakes prediction wasn’t our solely Pokéfail of the 12 months – Connor, Pocket Techniques {Hardware} Editor, additionally steered a basic Pokémon port assortment for Nintendo Change On-line and was sorely disenchanted. If Recreation Freak launched a bundle of the older video games for the Nintendo Change, both as its personal recreation or as titles on NSO, it could virtually print cash. It’s getting more durable and more durable to entry these older titles legitimately, particularly because of the closure of the Wii U and 3DS digital console marketplaces, so we’d like to see the primary few generations make their technique to the Change, for the sake of videogame preservation.
Our last Pokémon prediction was a half-win. I predicted that in 2024 we’d get Legends: Celebi, one other historic Pokémon journey set in Johto as an alternative of Sinnoh. Whereas we didn’t get the era proper, we’re getting a brand new spin-off recreation, and we will’t wait to be taught extra in regards to the Pokémon Legends: Z-A launch date in 2025.
One factor that’s abundantly clear from our many, many incorrect predictions is that we’re determined for some new Nintendo Change releases. With the top of the Change’s life in sight, it is sensible that Nintendo is specializing in remasters and remakes as an alternative of latest titles, however we’re ravenous out right here! 2024 left us with no Kingdom Hearts 4 launch date, a Witchbrook launch date, a brand new Spyro recreation, a brand new God of Conflict recreation, or a brand new Digimon recreation, and albeit we’re a bit harm. Hopefully, with the Change 2 on the horizon, we’ll get some thrilling new console releases in 2025 to maintain us going.
Amongst all our photographs at nighttime, we did really handle to hit a few targets. Our Deputy Editor Kayleigh predicted that we’d get a bodily launch of Poppy Playtime for the Nintendo Change, and MOB Leisure is making it occur. Certain, the three-chapter bundle isn’t really out till April 2025, however we obtained the announcement this 12 months so we’re taking it as a win. Our different tenuous success was Ruby’s prediction of a Hoyoverse life sim, which appears to be on the playing cards because of some current emblems and social media exercise. No matter it finally ends up being, we will’t wait till Hoyoverse formally unveils Petit Planet to the world.
So, our 2024 predictions have been removed from correct, however they paint an awesome image of what the Pocket Techniques group needs from cell and Change video games. Now that we’ve obtained a full group once more, who is aware of what we’ll provide you with for 2025? When you’re right here, ensure that to take a look at Holly’s enchantment for extra males in gacha video games subsequent.