Masuda says he wants Let’s Go “to serve as sort of a base or starting point for the next 20 years of Pokemon”
In terms of popularity, Pokemon couldn’t be in a better place than it is right now. Pokemon GO created another surge for the franchise a few years ago while games on consoles continue to sell and the IP itself is known around the world.
Speaking with The Verge, Pokemon developer Junichi Masuda touched on the huge success of Pokemon GO, stating:
“Pokémon Go really did represent the second Pokémon boom, so to say, and it was really a rare opportunity that no one could have counted on. Especially the timing, with the 20th anniversary of Pokémon was the same year and we were able to create something that really resonated with the world again and just kind of create this huge explosion.”
Masuda added that Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu / Eevee wouldn’t have been possible without Pokemon GO:
“[It’s] the whole idea of the throwing mechanic. Also the concept of just having this living room experience where everyone will just kind of get together.”
Masuda left some interesting comments about the series’ future. He mentioned that he hopes the new Switch games will serve as sort of a base or starting point for the next 20 years of Pokemon” and that “there’s still a lot of room to explore variety”.
“The biggest thing I feel with Let’s Go is really hoping that it’s going to serve as sort of a base or starting point for the next 20 years of Pokémon. I really think it’s important that Pokémon continues to be a positive force in the world – makes people happier, enriches their lives through a variety of ways. But I don’t think it needs to be a consistent, unchanging experience necessarily. I think there’s still a lot of room to explore variety, not only through the main series of games but also through the more spinoff titles.”
