As teased, Pokémon game director Junichi Masuda DID have an "important" announcement to make today - confirmation of the next Pokemon game - Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2.
This is the first time in the series that a numerical sequel will be release instead of there being a different colour in the title.
3DS hopefuls will perhaps be disappointed to hear that the game is headed to DS (although of course backwards compatibility means it'll be playable on 3DS), and will be out in Japan in June.
No further details were shared, but a teaser site has been launched showing the two new legendary Pokemon (pictured) to star in the sequel, the names of whom Masuda says he'll reveal next week.
Comments
57 comments so far...
Cocopander on 26 Feb '12 said:
I'm now even more tempted to purchase a 3DS... :/
Cogglesz on 26 Feb '12 said:
Damn, i am let down by this!
sepewrath on 26 Feb '12 said:
A direct sequel would be a rather interesting change of pace for the series.
Spirit6666 on 26 Feb '12 said:
A direct sequel is a really nice change.
But as it is a sequel , I am wondering if you will play the same Pokemon trainer as in the first one. And if you do something will probably need to happen for him to lose all his pokemon at the start of the game or something...
88oEfck8 on 26 Feb '12 said:
I see.
A direct sequel is a really nice change.
Sentinator on 26 Feb '12 said:
I am very disappointed in Nintendo's naming conventions. They seem to be pretty much giving up now. I wanted Pokemon Rappin Black and Whoppin White. They couldn't even change the colour names. They really have lost the passion for this haven't they.
DarkStart163 on 26 Feb '12 said:
A direct sequel is a really nice change
DarkStart163 on 26 Feb '12 said:
of course
G_R7 on 26 Feb '12 said:
Lets be fair to BW2 and say that Pokemon Grey always sounded like a crap name.
Carbon64 on 26 Feb '12 said:
Well that is a change
gonna be good to see what it's like though , oh an DS ! 
Aer0Smith360 on 26 Feb '12 said:
wow! Nintendo have a perfectly good handheld (3DS) that is now just picking up and they release a pokemon game for an old system? wtf! I would of liked a pokemon game be built from the ground up using the 3DS functions and graphical power and 3D view not some quick, cheap build so Nintendo can make a quick buck! Pokemon has sooooo much potential yet Nintendo stick with the same old same old!
Also the game is released June this year in Japan so I am led to believe that the game was already in production since the annoucement of Black and White.
SunStart2012 on 26 Feb '12 said:
nice
Tarsion on 26 Feb '12 said:
I am very disappointed in Nintendo's naming conventions.
Casssy on 26 Feb '12 said:
Why not a pokemon game on the Wii (or Wii U)?
madscar on 26 Feb '12 said:
A direct sequel, well thats interesting. Now we have to wait for some details.
deepbluerd on 26 Feb '12 said:
The Wii is dead now. After the last story there is nothing else. Wii U would have been good for a launch title.
Dimpee on 26 Feb '12 said:
So, the real Nintendo gamers, the ones who love Pokémon have bought 3DS's, and yet this is a DS game.
I hope it flops.
Carbon64 on 26 Feb '12 said:
The 3DS is first Nintendo console I haven't bought since the 64 so I'm as real as any other And I love Pokemon , i also know an awful lot like me who never got one either. I will eventually after the re design so I can play fire emblem but not before.
Anyway isn't this kinda what happened with gold and silver ? Released on the older console but ( I would imagine anyway ) ment to be played on the newer one.
Drusus on 26 Feb '12 said:
Black and White 2? Peter are you behind this? Lol
PMIKE5 on 26 Feb '12 said:
It's been the same old story for years. Why build a game gamers want when they can release a game that DOESN'T LET YOU WALK DIAGONALLY?!
Also, when you get pokémon like this, do you really want new ones?
http://img.pokemondb.net/artwork/stunfisk.jpg
Mobias on 26 Feb '12 said:
A direct sequel? That's... weird...
Aer0Smith360 on 26 Feb '12 said:
@PMIKE5 i know what your saying but with the 3DS having more power I would of thought atleast Nintendo would of had the next pokemon game ready for 3DS. The game would of REALLY helped sales soar! They have a perfectly good handheld out there so why produce it for there older model?
Doesn't matter it will most likely sell anyway
Cogglesz on 26 Feb '12 said:
It sounds like maybe your going to be able to play this in 3D on the 3DS, if this is the case i'm not let down
Sentinator on 26 Feb '12 said:
Theres really no point in announcing a big Pokemon game for Wii at this point. As for Wii U Reggie can say what he wants but the big announcements for that will be at E3. Thats where the lineup is most likely announced. Until Nintendo want to break their silence on it the only games on wii u are the accidentally leaked ones and the ones we know already.
Nanaki on 26 Feb '12 said:
I'm really not liking the idea of a direct sequel. I've bought and own every single Pokémon game since Red and Blue, and more often than not I buy them at launch. They're going to need to add a lot to these 'sequels' to justify a release purchase from me. Considering the small differences the two versions of each game get, paying full price for 4 (B/W/B1/W1) slightly different versions of the same game is pushing it a bit
Miveal on 26 Feb '12 said:
Geez, next generation!? They should do what all wants, and get back to previous ones
dicky1993 on 26 Feb '12 said:
not expecting this and don;t those 2 legendary pokemon just look like the original black/white legendary pokemon just with a couple more spikes
Ra-zor on 26 Feb '12 said:
I can't understand Nintendo!
They have a big chance using the Pokemon franchise to boost their 3DS sales, but instead they still go for the old DS system instead.
They should just think about all the people, who would purchase a 3DS just to play the newest Pokemon edition.
loopholist3 on 26 Feb '12 said:
I really don't know what to think of this. It's either the best thing ever, or the worst thing ever
Balladeer on 26 Feb '12 said:
Why would you pick out the mighty Derpfisk for this purpose when you could have posted this chap:
http://images.wikia.com/pokemon/images/6/69/524Roggenrola.png
Anyway, we'll see what changes they bring this time around. Yes, they do bring changes.
fatherofthenoo on 26 Feb '12 said:
Just in case anyone is interested, the Japanese site may say that we can expect it in Japan in June 2012, although I cannot read Kanji yet, so it might mean something else related to the game is expected on this date. It would coincide with E3 so who knows.
Also, as a sequel I think it'll continue the story of the character from the first game, but probably into a new area with a handful of new pokees popped in, but most likely classic pokees for those people who a new to the series and haven't caught them. Kind of like when we visited Kanto after Gold/Silver finished.
I was actually planning on getting "grey" as I thought that I'll hold off until the "complete" game in the series was released, but clearly I will just have to settle with Black or White.
@balladeer
You just put me off them lol
Balladeer on 26 Feb '12 said:
To be fair, that's my least favourite one of the new bunch. There are some better ones:
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/b/b7/497Serperior.png/149px-497Serperior.png
Get your hand off my tail, trainer, you'll make it dirty.
laminated0 on 26 Feb '12 said:
I wonder if you will be able to continue between the two games with the same save taking your pokedex and items, pokemon etc from the first game. This could be very interesting.
Mousmous on 26 Feb '12 said:
I think I'll finnaly buy a 3DS if there will be a Pkmn White 2 + 3ds pack!
3obz on 26 Feb '12 said:
I like many was hoping this would be a 3ds announcement... however any new itteration into the pokemon franchise is exciting.
My main concern that follows this is being on DS just = Easily pirated.
Regardless, one would have thought that releasing this for 3DS (or even having black2 on ds and white2 on 3ds) would make the most business sense regarding both piracy and driving the 3ds forward...
rivalz on 26 Feb '12 said:
pokemon the best !
Feitan on 26 Feb '12 said:
A black/white 2 or an another following of pokemon?
CollisionAlert on 26 Feb '12 said:
Sweet, I need to finish the first pokemon black still, i should get on that!
teddington on 26 Feb '12 said:
say waaaaaa
wheres pokemon moave?
HunterF12 on 26 Feb '12 said:
I'm ok with it just being on the DS. And a sequel to the first sounds great.
NGP on 26 Feb '12 said:
A number in the title doesn't necessarily mean it will be a story sequel to Black and White.... It could just be an expanded retelling of the same story, like they always do. This time the story will be adapted to feature Kyurem.
godyd87 on 26 Feb '12 said:
still playin pokemom?
TehSlenderMan on 26 Feb '12 said:
Or better, the game detects if you played Pokemon Black/White one, and if you have, you play as the trainer with all his Pokemon, and the game starts out at a lvl that is equal to that trainer, but if you haven't played the first, you pick your starter Pokemon and the game starts like every other Pokemon game :p
Haaps on 26 Feb '12 said:
Seems nice, but i LOVED the Pokemon red & Blue...
It was like really a lot of my childhood playing the game and trading the good old cards with my friends... Now its just not the same and hasn't really been since 
tudul on 26 Feb '12 said:
Pokemon is just overrated !
Xan764 on 26 Feb '12 said:
One more ? ..
Tiffosi on 26 Feb '12 said:
This is so cool , been waiting for a new Pokemon for a long time
Kalidrimm on 27 Feb '12 said:
Finally new pokemon !
Daxionan on 27 Feb '12 said:
New Pokemons really look dumb nowadays :/
Cocopander on 27 Feb '12 said:
... even better! I can play the latest Pokemon and not have to buy the newest DS... although I'm still probably going to get the 3DS. Shame it's not going to be 3D though. :/
omageus on 27 Feb '12 said:
Ok, I've to admit...
I played Pokemon Red and now I ant to buy this one. I'm old. It's pokemon...
azz72 on 27 Feb '12 said:
After all these I can't believe there hasn't been a full 3D adventure,they are missing a trick.
NeoPhythe on 27 Feb '12 said:
Gotta have this game ..
so..shiney !
Flaying Mantis on 27 Feb '12 said:
Well this announcement was a bit of a surprise - I'd have put good money on them going down the predicatble Pokemon Grey/Ruby & Sapphire remakes route! Not quite sure what to make of this new direction yet though, shall have to see some footage and get some details before I make up my mind.
Part of me thinks it's good that they're actually breaking with tradition in some way (full sequels should be better than the usual mish-mash with added features) but part of me also thinks that this may be even less innovative due to the constraints of following on from the first ones - I certainly don't think these will be as big a departure as whatever the next two 'proper' games will be.
Also, not sure if this has been pointed out yet but those two 'new' Pokemon don't look that new at all to me, they look like a hybrid between Kyurem and Zekrom/Reshiram...
axouel on 27 Feb '12 said:
soon...
mandlecreed on 27 Feb '12 said:
Bring this out on 3DS only > Audience of several million to snap this up, plus new 3DS buyers to convince.
Bring this out on DS > Audience of tens of millions to snap this up, hopefully bagging lots of new 3DS buyers along the way.
I can see why Nintendo did it like this.
zfzwind on 28 Feb '12 said:
Pikachu~~~~lol