Latest news with #Paldea
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's free Switch 2 update promises to steal hundreds more hours from me as shiny hunting looks easier than ever with more wild encounters
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are each set to receive a free update on Switch 2 for a smoother frame rate, and it also sounds like the patch will also be huge news for any shiny hunting enthusiasts who like to spend their time looking for rare, sparkly 'mons, as it appears the process should theoretically be faster than ever. Although Scarlet and Violet were criticized at launch for their shaky performance on the OG Switch, I've personally spent many, many hours in the Paldea region looking for sparkly Pokemon with alternate color palettes. Like in Legends: Arceus and Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee before it, being able to simply see Pokemon in the overworld makes the process substantially faster – even at full 1/4192 odds – than repeatedly running around in the grass for random encounters. However, the simple point remains that the more Pokemon you can see, the better your chances are of seeing a sparkly one appear on your screen. And, well, thanks to the power of the Switch 2, it seems that more Pokemon is what we're going to get. As highlighted by Twitterer @Wario64, a new Japanese blog post from Nintendo briefly details the upcoming update, which – when machine translated – mentions that you'll be able to see Pokemon from further away than before. Essentially, you can expect an improved draw distance, but the screenshots shared really show what a difference this makes. With wild encounters now appearing far further into the distance, you're able to see many more Pokemon simultaneously. Previously, you had to either move around to despawn the currently generated Pokemon and bring in a batch of new ones, or you could choose to quickly enter and leave a picnic from your menu, despawning and respawning everything around you. That latter method seems like it'll work particularly well with this increased draw distance, as you'll be able to see plenty of Pokemon very quickly, without moving at all. I have just one lingering concern, though. Unlike in Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet don't feature a sound effect to signify when a shiny Pokemon has appeared near you, meaning you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times to make sure you don't miss any. Spawning in more Pokemon and at even further distances means it'll be a lot harder to keep track of everything on your screen, and fail your hunts without even knowing. A terrifying prospect. All in all though, I'd like to believe this is a decidedly positive update overall. As previously announced, Scarlet and Violet will be updated on Switch 2 on the new console's launch date, June 5, so any intrepid shiny hunters will be able to dive right in from day one. While you're here, be sure to check out our roundup of upcoming Switch 2 games, too.
Geek Culture
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet': First Looks At 4K 60FPS Gameplay For Nintendo Switch 2
Pokémon fan or not, there's no denying that Scarlet and Violet could have been released in a better state. From game-breaking glitches to inconsistent frame rates, the ninth-generation titles saw dampened excitement levels at launch, even if they ended up being Nintendo's fastest-selling entries. Fans can expect to bid these issues farewell on the Nintendo Switch 2, where the games will receive a free performance upgrade. Ahead of the console's launch on 5 June, with pre-orders for Singapore starting from 9 June, the company has dropped a gameplay preview running at 60 frames per second and 4K resolution on its Nintendo Today news app. Advertisement ▼ The footage is locked down on the platform, but a 33-second-long recording by Bluesky user Wario64 offers a promising glimpse of Paldea in docked mode. In it, the player is seen traversing various key locations, including the Pokémon Academy in Mesagoza and Casseroya Lake, notoriously known for its major frame rate dips and stutter in the original build, with relative smoothness. The visual experience remains largely unchanged, however, maintaining the same flat textures as before. The update for Scarlet and Violet may be too little, too late, but it does signify a big leap in the right direction, especially with the launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A just right around the corner. Featuring similar mechanics to its 2022 predecessor Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the highly anticipated title is set in Lumoise City and will introduce cross-generational starter critters Totodile (Generation II), Chikorita (Gen II), and Tepig (Gen V). Advertisement ▼ Combat has also been revamped, with the turn-based tradition eschewed for real-time features akin to other role-playing games, such as active player positioning and dodging. Additionally, the Mega Evolution system is set to return after its last outing in Sun and Moon. Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases on 16 October for both the Nintendo Switch and its upcoming successor. The next-gen console will launch in most regions on 5 June, before landing in Southeast Asia on 26 June.
CNET
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
New Footage Confirms Switch 2 Versions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Run at 60fps
We've long known that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were on the list to receive a Switch 2 performance upgrade. Now, players have their first look at how these games play on the new console, via Nintendo Today, the Switch 2 news app. There's no way to embed the video in this article — Switch 2 footage is locked down on Nintendo Today — but the Wario64 Bluesky account shared a 33-second-long recording of the footage that you can view here. The showcase confirms that Scarlet and Violet will run at 4K at 60 frames per second on the Switch 2, at least while it's docked. This is a refreshing upgrade to the generation nine Pokemon games, which are among some of the best Pokemon games of all time but are hampered by a slew of performance issues. Nintendo included shots of key in-game locations, such as Pokemon Academy in Mesagoza and Casseroya Lake. With the original Switch hardware, the frame rate would frequently tank anywhere between 20 and 30fps when exploring these areas. The Switch 2 footage shows the game maintaining a smooth 60fps with no visual stutters no matter where the player is exploring. The art style for the game remains largely unchanged, with wild Pokemon plodding around mostly flat textures on the overworld. But when it comes to Scarlet and Violet's performance issues, the Switch 2 seems to be making a big leap in the right direction. The Switch 2 officially launches on Thursday, so you won't have to wait very long to explore a more optimized version of the Paldea region. If an upgraded version of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can't satisfy your pocket-monster collecting urges, Pokemon Legends: Z-A launches for the Switch and the Switch 2 on Oct. 16.
CNET
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
New Footage Confirms the Switch 2 Versions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Run at 60 FPS
We've long since known that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were on the list to receive a Switch 2 performance upgrade. Now, players have their first look at how these games play on the new console, via Nintendo Today, the Switch 2 news app. There's no way to embed the video in this article -- Switch 2 footage is locked down on Nintendo Today -- but the Wario64 BlueSky account shared a 33-second-long recording of the footage that you can view here. The showcase confirms that Scarlet and Violet will run at 4k/60 FPS on the Switch 2, at least while it's docked. It's a refreshing switch-up for the generation nine Pokemon games, which are among some of the best Pokemon games of all time, but are hampered by a slew of performance issues. Nintendo included shots of key in-game locations such as the Pokemon Academy in Mesagoza and Casseroya Lake. On the original Switch hardware, the frame rate would frequently tank anywhere between 20 and 30 FPS when exploring these areas. The Switch 2 footage shows the game maintaining a smooth 60 FPS with no visual stutters no matter where the player is exploring. The art style for the game remains largely unchanged, with wild Pokemon plodding around mostly flat textures on the overworld. But when it comes to Scarlet and Violet's performance issues, the Switch 2 seems to be making a big leap in the right direction. The Switch 2 officially launches on Thursday so you won't have to wait very long to explore a more-optimized version of the Paldea region. If an upgraded version of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can't sate your pocket-monster collecting urges, Pokemon Legends: Z-A will launch for the Switch and the Switch 2 on Oct. 16.
