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Pokémon fans had a solid year when it comes to video games, with New Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Unite, and the Diamond and Pearl remakes coming out in 2021 and Pokémon Legends: Arceus kicking off 2022. They’ll find out what else the franchise has planned during the February 2022 Pokémon Presents. What are some of the announcements trainers are hoping for?

1. A DLC for ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’

Wild Piplup near the beach in 'Pokémon Legends: Arceus'
Screenshot of ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ | Nintendo

Pokémon Legends: Arceus has been out for just one month, but fans are already hoping for new content from the Nintendo Switch game. Its open-world format and new approach to storytelling made it an instant hit. And whispers of a DLC have fans wondering if one could be announced during February 2022’s Pokémon Presents.

As Nintendo Smash notes, @Riddler_Khu leaked plans for a DLC update on Twitter. And although the leak hasn’t been confirmed, it makes sense that Arceus would add more Pokémon to its roster. (As of now, the game contains a mere 242 Pokémon.)

With so much talk of an update, fans have discussed what they’d like to see on Twitter and Reddit. New regions and an expanded Pokédex are mentioned frequently. With any luck, those things will be announced during the live stream this weekend.

2. A ‘Pokémon Stadium’ game for Nintendo Switch

The original Pokémon Stadium came out in 1999, and the game remains a Nintendo 64 classic to this day. It was so popular when it was released, it even received a sequel. However, Game Freak hasn’t revisited the series since.

With Pokémon Snap recently receiving a reboot, fans have started to wonder if Pokémon Stadium could follow suit. A remake for the Nintendo Switch would certainly serve up some nostalgia among longtime gamers, as would a direct sequel. And according to Metro, rumors of a new addition to the series have been making the rounds.

Judging by reactions on social media, another Pokémon Stadium is a welcome development among the fanbase. Fingers crossed it happens sometime in the near future.

3. ‘Detective Pikachu 2’

Detective Pikachu received mixed reviews when it debuted internationally in 2018, but that didn’t stop Legendary Pictures from turning the concept into a film — or Game Freak from greenlighting a sequel.

The second Detective Pikachu game has been in various stages of development for years. However, fans believe it could receive a release date or trailer during February 2022’s Pokémon Presents.

It certainly would be nice to be reunited with our favorite sleuthing Pikachu (especially if the Switch sequel addresses some of the issues players had with the original).

4. ‘Let’s Go Johto’

Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee came out in 2018 and proved massive successes from the jump. Since their release, many have wondered why a similar game set in the Johto region hasn’t been on Game Freak’s radar.

Let’s Go Johto — or whatever two games the company would break it up into — is an idea that gets hyped every so often. Yet there’s no word about whether it will ever come to fruition. Because Game Freak hasn’t hinted at such a thing, it probably won’t be one of the announcements at February 2022’s Pokémon Presents. But we can dream, right?

And if Game Freak was going to announce a Let’s Go Johto game, this weekend would be the ideal time. Pokémon GO is currently hosting its Johto Tour event. With fans already focused on the region, what better time is there to announce new games set in it?

5. A Gen 9 announcement

Related

‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’: Fans Want a Sequel Centered on Celebi and Johto

As soon as a Pokémon Presents event was announced for February 2022, speculations about Gen 9 began circulating. It’s been about three years since Gen 8 arrived with Sword and Shield. Because of that, many fans are convinced a ninth generation of Pokémon is inevitable over the next couple of years.

February’s live stream could tease the next series of games and starters, a possibility that has fans mixed. While some are eager to see what’s next for the franchise, others feel it’s too soon for a new generation of Pokémon. Only time will tell which camp is onto something.

Watch the February 2022 Pokémon Presents on The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. EST.

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