Detective Pikachu 2: A Thrilling Comeback with an Unfortunate Timing

Highlights

Detective Pikachu Returns is highly anticipated and has a lot of expectations to live up to after the success of the original game.

During the Pokemon Presents live stream, exciting information about the game was hinted at, featuring appearances by well-known characters and locations from previous versions.

Set to be released on October 6, the game will face stiff competition from a slew of eagerly awaited titles.

Detective Pikachu Returns has been highly anticipated since its announcement three years ago. The original title, Detective Pikachu, gained immense popularity upon its release for the Nintendo 3DS. As a result, the sequel has big shoes to fill. The Pokemon franchise has become a global phenomenon, with its wide range of games, spin-offs, movies, and TV shows. The recent Pokemon Presents live stream on August 8 managed to pique the community's interest by providing some enticing details about the game.

During the live stream, a nearly three-minute trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns was showcased, featuring familiar faces and locations from the past. One notable location is Ryme City, an iconic urban area where humans and Pokemon coexist and collaborate. While there are many exciting aspects to anticipate, it seems that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company may have made a mistake with the chosen release date for this adventure game.

Detective Pikachu Returns Will Face a Lot of Competition

The Nintendo Direct 2023 kicked off with an exciting announcement titled "Detective Pikachu Returns - Announcement Trailer." This trailer effectively introduced key characters such as Tim Goodman and the ever-charismatic Pikachu. Once again, Pikachu embraces his coffee-addicted, Sherlock Holmes-inspired persona as he delves into a captivating mystery unfolding in Ryme City. While it remains unknown how this plot will deviate from the original game and the 2019 live-action film adaptation, one can expect a plethora of fresh characters and Pokemon interactions.

Furthermore, the trailer released in June brought joy to fans as it confirmed the game's release this year. Specifically, gamers can anticipate its arrival on October 6. However, it's worth noting that this highly-anticipated release will face tough competition in a packed October, with numerous other exciting games hitting the market in 2023. Detective Pikachu will need to prove his mettle against a formidable array of rivals.

Disgaea 7 (October 3)

Forza Motorsport (October 10)

Wild Card Football (October 10)

Assassin's Creed Mirage (October 12)

Lords of the Fallen (October 13)

Alan Wake 2 (October 17)

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (October 20)

Super Mario Bros. Wonder (October 20)

Just Dance 2024 (October 23)

Cities Skylines 2 (October 24)

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 (October 24)

Alone in the Dark (October 25)

Total War: Pharaoh (October, date not specified)

Historically, certain games have faced challenges in terms of performance due to clashes in release dates with other titles. For instance, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 share the same launch day, which may have a negative impact on their respective player counts. On the other hand, when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released in May, other game developers wisely chose to avoid competing with it. October is set to be a bustling month in the gaming industry, potentially posing advantages or disadvantages for the puzzle Pokemon game.

Detective Pikachu Returns is set to release on October 6, 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, putting it in direct competition with other highly anticipated titles such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and the acclaimed Baldurs Gate 3. Despite this, Nintendo has never backed down from competition, making it unlikely that the game will be postponed. Its ability to make a significant impact during the bustling month remains to be seen.