We stay in a post-platform world. Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo are now not treating one another like they’re adversaries of the “he who must not be named” selection of their advertising and marketing materials. Although console warriors are nonetheless combating that battle in feedback sections like troopers who don’t know the battle has ended, Halo is coming to PlayStation, so the battle is over. Not solely does that imply we get video games on extra platforms than we as soon as did, however we additionally get some brainbreaking moments, like at this time when Pokémon developer Sport Freak was featured in an Xbox showcase, and we acquired a uncommon look into the studio that made Pikachu.
The Tokyo workplace Sport Freak operates out of has been the corporate’s residence since 2020 when it moved to be nearer to Nintendo’s personal workplaces in the identical constructing, referred to as Kanda Sq.. It’s been about as lengthy since we final acquired a superb look inside the corporate’s workplace, whose decor relies on the Kanto area of the unique Pokémon Crimson and Inexperienced. Whereas the studio was exhibiting off its upcoming motion RPG Beast of Reincarnation in at this time’s video presentation, Pokémon acquired namedropped a number of instances over footage of the group engaged on the sport in its Kanda Sq. workplace. The clips we see present an workplace that, in some rooms, seems to be like some other online game developer’s area, with idea artwork on the partitions and computer systems in cubicles. However some rooms look a lot completely different, like one that’s coated in timber to appear to be Kanto’s Viridian Forest.
Whereas Pokémon’s identify was stated a number of instances within the showcase and this room is an homage to one in every of its most iconic early “dungeons,” so far as I can inform there’s no signal of a Pikachu or Poké Ball in these temporary glimpses into Sport Freak’s internal sanctum. I perceive why they wouldn’t present us pictures of the group engaged on upcoming Pokémon video games, however I’m shocked that there’s not even a body of iconography in these pictures. That appears like a deliberate alternative, maybe to not distract from Beast of Reincarnation?
The Viridian Forest backdrop does work for the upcoming Xbox/PC/PS5 sport, although, because it takes place in a post-apocalyptic fantasy Japan during which nature has reclaimed a lot of the land. Nonetheless, it’s odd to get an intimate look contained in the traditionally secretive studio from an Xbox showcase. It’s a disgrace Pikachu didn’t get to make a cameo look, however I sincerely doubt we’ll be seeing a Pokémon sport on Xbox, even because the console obstacles are falling down.
