Pokemon Anime's Unexpected Twist: Will Ash and Pikachu's Fate Shape Gen 10 Breaking Time-Honored Traditions?

Highlights

Ash and Pikachu's departure from the Pokemon animated series could have repercussions on the games, possibly starting with Gen 10.

The presence of Pikachu and its evolutionary line in every mainline Pokemon game might cease in Gen 10. Despite being a radical shift, this change could promote a greater variety of Pokemon representation, and there remains a possibility of Pikachu being reintroduced via downloadable content (DLC).

After more than two decades as the main characters of the Pokemon animated series, it was truly heartbreaking for countless fans to witness the departure of Ash and Pikachu, who had been the driving force behind the show for such a long time. Their story reached its peak after their triumphant victory in the Pokemon series' most significant tournament, making it an opportune moment to bid farewell to Ash and Pikachu, no matter how challenging it felt. As the animated series moves forward with fresh protagonists and creatures, the departure of Ash and Pikachu from Pokemon may have far-reaching consequences for the games, starting as early as the upcoming tenth generation.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's upcoming DLC, titled The Teal Mask, is expected to be released within the next few weeks, while the ninth generation will see the addition of another chapter to its storyline with the launch of The Indigo Disk in winter 2023. Although the future of the series remains uncertain at this time, the August Pokemon Presents show might unveil more details about what lies ahead, such as remakes of the fifth generation or a new Pokemon Legends game set in the Unova region. Nevertheless, it is highly likely that the tenth generation will arrive in the next couple of years or even longer, potentially deviating from a longstanding tradition established by the animated series.

Ash and Pikachu's Retirement Could Mean No Pikachu in Gen 10 Pokemon Games

New mainline Pokemon games typically introduce a unique collection of creatures specific to the region, including regional forms and entirely new species. This has become a fundamental aspect of the series, although certain generations have introduced fewer creatures than others. As a result, the Pokedex has expanded significantly, presenting the development team with increasingly difficult challenges, the most significant being the creation of distinctive and functional 3D models for all the creatures in each new game.

This is the primary reason behind the National Pokedex controversy that emerged when Pokemon Sword and Shield were released. Generation 8 marked the first time in the series that players were unable to capture all of the creatures. The base game included only a few hundred, causing the launch of the Gen 8 games to face significant issues. However, additional creatures were subsequently added through the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra DLCs. Similarly, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's base game offers just 400 creatures out of over one thousand, leading to its own set of controversies.

Gen 10 may remove multiple species from its Regional Pokedex, potentially signifying the end of Pikachu and its evolutionary line being featured in every mainline game. The Pokemon anime has already taken a different direction with its cast, so it's not unlikely that the video game series may follow suit. It is possible that the next game in Gen 10 could exclude Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu. However, this would not necessarily mean Pokemon is abandoning its mascot, but rather trying something new by having one game without it.

There is also a chance that if Game Freak does choose to exclude Pikachu's evolutionary line in Gen 10, it could later be added through downloadable content (DLC), which has become a new model for the franchise following the success of Gen 8. The absence of Pikachu and its friends in a mainline Pokemon game would be a significant departure from the series' history. However, one could argue that this change would provide a more diverse representation of Pokemon. Although Gen 10 Pokemon games are still a while away, they will be the first mainline titles after Ash and Pikachu's retirement, and it remains uncertain how this will impact them, if at all.