As part of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary celebrations, The Pokémon Company revealed a brand-new open-world title arriving on Nintendo Switch. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus release date wasn't confirmed at the time, but the initial gameplay was enough to get fans excited.
We now know a lot more about the game than we did back then though. Pokémon Legends: Arceus features an all-new storyline set in the Hisui region, an ancient Sinnoh! It also has brand new features to be excited about, such as seamless battling, open-world areas, and rideable Pokémon!
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Here’s everything we know about Pokémon Legends: Arceus so far, including it's release date, trailers, confirmed Pokémon, and more.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Release Date
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will release on January 28, 2022. There were some rumours that it had been delayed, but we have heard nothing official from The Pokémon Company as of yet.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Pre-Orders
You can pre-order Pokémon Legends: Arceus right now! It won't be here until the end of January, but you can ensure you're ready to go as soon as it hits midnight on the 28th by getting your order in now.
Japanese players will also be treated to a stunning TCG treat if they pre-order the game, and global players can find out how to get the Growlithe Kimono set.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Confirmed Platforms
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Trailer
Check out the launch trailer for the game below!
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Price
Based on previous Pokémon releases on Switch, Pokémon Legends: Arceus will likely cost £49.99/$59.99.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Region
Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place in the Hisui region, which is a "a long-gone era" of the Sinnoh region that we know and love from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
It will be interesting to play Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the remake of the original Sinnoh games, then play a new game set in the same region from the past.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Starter Pokemon
It wouldn't be a Pokémon game if there weren't three Pokémon to choose between at the start of the adventure!
Players can select between:
- Rowlet
- Cyndaquil
- Oshawott
click to enlarge
+ 2The three starters are from different regions - Cyndaquil from Johto; Oshawott from Unova; and Rowlet from Alola. This presents some interesting questions about a game set in feudal Sinnoh. How did the professor get their hands on them? Will we see more Pokémon from other regions in the game? Pokémon fans have a lot of unanswered questions.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Latest News
January 19 - Gameplay and Pokédex Leaks
In typical Pokémon style, most of the game and details surrounding it leaked a week prior to release. After some Pokémon Trainers got their hands on the game early, footage of the opening hours of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and unseen bits of narrative began to float around social media.
- Read More: Will Pokémon Legends: Arceus Have Gyms?
Not long after the footage surfaced, dataminers supposedly revealed the entire Pokédex, including all shiny Pokémon. The games story and soundtrack, as well as models of assumed new Pokémon, were shared. The tweets that initially disclosed these have since been deleted, but the information is still hovering around social media, especially the Pokémon subreddit. So, if you're trying to avoid spoilers to the best of your ability, it's probably best to mute and ignore all things Pokémon related until January 28, 2022.
January 13 - Gameplay Preview
On January 13, 2022, Nintendo kicked off the new year by sharing a rather lengthy gameplay preview of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Throughout the 13 minute video, we are given a much more vivid idea of what to expect from the game. It details crafting further, missions, battling wild Pokémon, and tells us a whole load more information about character customisation and Noble Pokémon. Plenty to be excited about!
December 15 - Diamond and Pearl Clans
Nintendo shared another trailer via Twitter in December the reveals some additional features set to be involved in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that intertwine the game with recently released Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
It appears that Pokémon Legends: Arceus is set to feature two rival clans - Diamond clan and Pearl clan - who are opposed due to their varying opinions on the deity named Sinnoh. There also appears to be a third clan, Gingko Guild, which is a group of merchants that players will meet around the Hisui region.
It appears that the rivalry between the Diamond and Pearl clans may be a persistent part of Pokémon Arceus: Legends main storyline, with the Gingko Guild on hand to keep players pockets full as they battle their way through the open-world experience.
October 26 - New Pokémon And Hisuian Forms Added
Brand new Pokémon have been announced for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, including two Hisuian forms and two new evolutions.
As with Alolan and Galarian forms, these Pokémon have adapted to the landscape of the Hisui region - in this case, its snowy climes. You can find out more about Wyrdeer, Basculegion, and the Hisuian forms (including Zorua and Zoroark) in our guide to the new Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
September 28 - New Trailer Reveals Kleavor
The Pokémon Company dropped a hot new trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which reveals a lot about the forthcoming game.
As well as looking at the Arc Phone and the host of customisation options for your character, the trailer reveals Wardens and the Noble Pokémon they guard - including new Scyther 'Axe' evolution, Kleavor. The Bug/Rock-type Pokémon looks like a powerful miniboss, and we can't wait to take it on.
click to enlarge + 2August 18 - Pokémon Presents Information
In case you missed it, the Pokémon Presents livestream on August 18 revealed loads of new information about Pokémon Legends: Arceus, including the aforementioned new Pokémon.
It also delves into the stealth mechanics, the turn-based combat that uses Pokémon's speed stats to determine attack order in a new way, and just what is going on in the Hisui region. You're working for the Galaxy Expedition Team - yes, you heard that right, likely the precursor to Team Galactic - and have to complete your Pokédex.
There are new characters such as Cyllene and Commander Kamado to meet, and Jubilife City is nothing more than Jubilife Village. But the biggest changes come from the stealth mechanics and the open-world gameplay.
August 11 - The Pokémon Company Promises New Information "Soon" -
Speaking in an interview with GamesBeat, JC Smith, The Pokémon Company International's senior director of consumer marketing, was asked when we'd learn more about Legends: Arceus. Smith replied stating:
That one, we have a robust rollout, but not a lot that I can share at this time. But the team has a lot of great things to share, and you’ll be hearing from us soon.
This appears to be sooner than we might think...
There you have it! That's all the news and details we have on Pokémon Legends: Arceus so far. If you're also wondering whether the game is going to be compatible with the likes of Pokémon HOME, we speak about the matter here.
Updated on 20 January, 2022 by Kelsey Raynor.