Pokémon Sleep may sound like something conceived for an SNL sketch — the time you sleep impacts in-app Pokémon training — the but the new mobile game is very real and headed for release next year. This was just one of the many announcements from the Pokémon Co. International’s press conference last night.
Here’s a recap of everything the company announced during the 36-minute business strategy broadcast. Grab your Pokéballs, trainers, because there’s a lot to unpack!
Pokémon Sleep
This new mobile app will “turn sleeping into entertainment.” No joke. Basically, Nintendo will introduce a new peripheral device called Pokémon GO Plus+, which will connect to the app and measure a player’s time sleeping using an embedded accelerometer. The amount of time players sleep will impact gameplay, but we have to wait to get more details about exactly how. In honor of this new announcement, players will start encountering sleeping Snorlax in Pokémon GO.
Pokémon Home
Pokémon games span multiple gaming platforms: mobile apps, the Nintendo 3DS, and the Nintendo Switch. With the new Pokémon Home service, players can manage their Pokémon collections across multiple games and trade Pokémon with other players. This cloud-based service is expected to launch early next year and will connect with Pokémon Bank, Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee!, Pokémon GO, and the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games.
Pokémon Masters
This new mobile game features a new type of Pokémon Battling, as well as famous Pokémon Trainers from previous Pokémon video games. We don’t have many details about this one yet, but additional information will drop in June.
Detective Pikachu Comes to Nintendo Switch
Following the success of the original Detective Pikachu game and the movie it inspired, Pokémon plans to release a new game featuring Detective Pikachu, this time for the Nintendo Switch. Apparently, this game picks up where the 3DS game’s cliffhanger ending left off.
Pokémon Shirts Comes to the U.S.
Pokémon Shirts is a made-to-order clothing service that fans can use to design and order clothing featuring the original 151 Pokémon. It is only available in Japan right now, but it is officially coming to the U.S. and Europe soon.
Check out the full video of the press conference here, and stay tuned for additional details about these new Poké-initiatives.
Photos: The Pokémon Co. International
