Nintendo Announces Switch Remakes of ‘Pokemon Diamond & Pearl’

There have been quite a few rumors over the last few weeks that we would be receiving news about a remake of “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” remake during the franchise’s 25th-anniversary celebration. During the event, the Pokémon Company finally revealed those rumors to be true; “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” are being remade for the Switch as “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl.” While there’s been tons of speculation surrounding the games, the direction the Diamond and Pearl remakes are going is surprising.

Back when people were discussing how “Diamond and Pearl” would be brought to the Switch, we assumed that the remakes would be similar to the franchise’s latest releases: “Sword and Shield” or the “Let’s Go” games. However, neither of those assumptions were correct. According to the Pokémon Company, “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” aim to be “faithful” remakes of the beloved DS titles. From the screenshots and gameplay they’ve released so far, it’s easy to see what they mean by that.  The aesthetics of the game mimic the original, from the top-down perspective to the squished proportions, making “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” look more like a graphical update than just a full-fledged remake.

While this type of approach might be considerably safer than releasing a “Sword and Shield” or a “Let’s Go” style game, it’s undeniable that the decision to lean into the nostalgia of the original “Diamond and Pearl” games was a major factor. Many fans, new and old, will be able to enjoy the Sinnoh region with a breath of fresh air. “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” will launch for Switch in late 2021.