Niantic annually commemorates the launch of Pokemon Red and Blue—the inaugural titles of the Pokemon franchise—through special events known as Pokemon GO Tours. Typically held in February, these events manifest in various formats. Some of them are exclusive to specific cities across the globe, while others are accessible to players worldwide. Attendees of the in-person events are required to purchase tickets to gain access to numerous digital rewards, including new Pokemon, Pokemon Eggs, Raid Passes, unique medals, and Catch Candies, among other perks.
Every Pokemon GO Tour features a distinctive theme centered around a particular region from the core Pokemon games. Most recently, in 2023, players celebrated the Hoenn region, followed by Sinnoh-themed events in 2024. Looking ahead, the 2025 Pokemon GO Tours will spotlight the Unova region—an area inspired by New York City that serves as the backdrop for the fifth-generation games, namely Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. Niantic’s selection of regions generally aligns with their chronological introduction in the core series, making the choice of Unova unsurprising, yet it raises speculation about a potential remake of the Black and White titles by The Pokemon Company.
From February 21 to 23, 2025, residents of Los Angeles and New Taipei City will have the chance to participate in the Pokemon GO Tour: Unova. Subsequently, players from around the world can join the fun during the following weekend on March 1 and 2.
The Significance of Pokemon GO’s Unova Tour
The Tradition of Pokemon Remakes
Remakes are a well-established tradition within the Pokemon series, typically occurring every few years. The journey began with the iconic Pokemon Red and Blue, which were completely reimagined as Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Game Boy Advance. Following this, every new Nintendo handheld has seen its share of remakes, including titles like Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver for the Nintendo DS—remakes of the classic Pokemon Gold and Silver—and the Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire titles for the Nintendo 3DS, remaking the original Ruby and Sapphire.
The Nintendo Switch stands out, being the only console to host two mainline remakes: Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, developed from the ground up as remakes of Pokemon Yellow in 2018, and the 2021 launch of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, remakes of the fourth-generation Diamond and Pearl.
The Case for a Pokemon Black and White Remake on Switch 2
With remakes made for the first four generations of mainline Pokemon games, expectations are high for an upcoming remake of Pokemon Black and White. However, the fact that these entries have direct sequels complicates matters. If a remake of Black and White is realized, it should ideally include Black 2 and White 2 to maintain the coherence of the narrative across the fifth generation.
Considering the anticipated announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the coming months, it’s likely that a potential Pokemon Black and White remake would prioritize this new console, as it is expected to deliver significantly enhanced performance. Should a remake be tailored for the Switch 2, players might anticipate modern, PS4-level graphics that would render the visuals of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl somewhat antiquated.
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