Nintendo Apologises For Disastrous Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Launch
Cyberpunk 2077, the GTA Trilogy, and Saints Row. Some games simply aren't ready for release, and while Cyberpunk 2077 has shown us how things can be turned around if you stick with it, players aren't keen on hanging around for months to see something in a playable state.
Alongside all of the above, a pretty major IP had a fall from grace in 2022 thanks to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet putting the "bug" in Bug-type Pokemon. Now, Nintendo is finally acknowledging Gen IX's tumultuous path to the Elite Four.
Nintendo Apologises For Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Click to enlargeGame Freak has largely gone to ground since Scarlet & Violet limped into Paldea like an injured Tauros, and while we haven't had a formal apology, the General Manager of Nintendo Canada has admitted mistakes were make.
In an interview with Financial Post, Susan Pennefather conceded that the launch of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet didn't exactly go to plan.
"You know, we absolutely apologize. Because it is so important to give players a positive experience with our games, and when this doesn't happen we do take it very much to heart," said Pennefather on the release of Scarlet & Violet.
"What I can say is the feedback from players has absolutely been taken very seriously. And we are working on improvements to these games."
Despite its flaws, Pennefather reiterated Pokemon is the "highest grossing entertainment media franchise of all time," while Scarlet & Violet sold over 10 million units in its first three days.
What's Next For Pokemon?
It's true that we all had a good chuckle at the outlandish glitches and bugs that plagued our trip around Paldea, but if this had been a release from a new IP or most established franchises that weren't Pokemon, we'd be sharpening our pitchfoods.
Instead, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet went on to have the most successful launch int he franchise's history - despite being the worst-rated mainline game in the 27 years of Pokemon.
Despite this, Game Freak is intent on rolling out patches to try and fix the quagmire of glitches still bogging down what could've been a pretty great outing.
Beyond this, players are convinced we've already seen a hint of where Gen X will take us. There also whispers of a Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC that can hopefully redeem the mistakes of the past.
One thing's for sure, this isn't the end of the road. Even if Game Freak itself won't acknowledge it dropped the Voltorb on this one, at least some pockets are finally admitting Scarlet & Violet wasn't all it was cracked up to be.