The Nintendo Switch 2 Makes One Newly Rumored Pokemon Sequel Entirely Logical

The Pokemon franchise remains one of the biggest in Nintendo’s lineup. Ever since the original Pokemon games, Pokemon Red and Blue (or Green in Japan), created “Pokemania” following its arrival in America in 1998, the series has become the highest-grossing media franchise in the world. Not even a myriad of technical issues were able to stop the latest entries, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, from being massive commercial successes on the Nintendo Switch, selling over 26 million copies to date.

Pokemon is already looking to make a strong entrance on the Nintendo Switch 2, with the Switch 2 Edition of Pokemon Legends: Z-A arriving this October. The follow-up to 2022’s Pokemon Legends: Arceus, this cross-gen game will bring players back to the Kalos region that was first introduced in 2013’s Pokemon X and Y. It’s sure to be one of the most exciting games of the rest of the year, and it should end up being just one of many exciting Pokemon titles to come on the Switch 2.

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The Switch 2 Could Bring A Surprising Pokemon Spin-Off Back

Hey You, Pikachu Could See A Sequel On The Nintendo Switch 2

Among other major features, the Switch 2 features a built-in microphone, which could prove beneficial if Nintendo were to make a sequel to Hey You, Pikachu. Released on the Nintendo 64 in 2000 (1998 in Japan), this unique game utilized the Nintendo 64’s Voice Recognition Unit (VRU) to enable players to interact with Pikachu through voice commands. It was one of only two titles released on the Nintendo 64 to use the VRU peripheral, and the only of the two to be released in America.

Rumors have circulated that The Pokemon Company may be preparing the sequel’s announcement for the upcoming Pokemon Presents showcase on July 22. Recently, the official Pokemon X account posted a tease featuring Pikachu standing in front of what appears to be speakers and a DJ deck, with the note that “It seems like Pikachu is preparing something…?” While it’s not clear what this could be teasing, one possible theory has pointed toward a Hey You, Pikachu sequel being announced at the show.

A Sequel To Hey You, Pikachu Could Improve On The Original

A Hey You, Pikachu follow-up on the Nintendo Switch 2 could be a boon in that it could fix some of the original game’s issues. While Hey You, Pikachu was a unique concept in its original Nintendo 64 release, it attracted criticism for the finicky microphone peripheral, which made it difficult for Pikachu to understand what players were saying. With the improvement of voice-recognition software in the past 25 years, along with the Switch 2’s built-in microphone, a Hey You, Pikachu sequel could serve as a massive improvement over the original game.

This wouldn’t be the first time a Nintendo 64 Pokemon game made a surprise return, either, as 2021’s New Pokemon Snap followed up on the original Nintendo 64 game 22 years later. That game also improved on some of the age-related issues with the original Pokemon Snap (notably with its controls) for an even better experience than the original, cult-classic game. Hey You, Pikachu could have the same benefit on the Switch 2 and could capitalize on its unique concept’s potential to a far greater degree than it did on the Nintendo 64.

Pokemon’s Cryptic Tease Raises Questions About Hey You, Pikachu 2

Of course, a Hey You, Pikachu sequel is not the only theory that this new Pikachu teaser image has created. Other ideas include the announcement of Pokemon music arriving on the Nintendo Music app, the next mainline Pokemon games being titled Pokemon Drum and Bass, or a Pokemon rhythm game spinoff. Thus, rumors of a Hey You, Pikachu sequel should be taken with a grain of salt, though its appearance would certainly make for another major surprise on the Nintendo Switch 2.

The Switch 2 already looks to have a great lineup of spin-off titles in major Nintendo franchises. Between games like Kirby Air Riders, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo is working to keep fans fed as the next major entries in its biggest franchises cook. A sequel to Hey You, Pikachu would slide in nicely alongside these other games, and it could serve as a major improvement to the original entry.