Pokémon Stars Version (lost enhanced Nintendo Switch port of "Pokémon Sun and Moon" Nintendo 3DS role-playing games; existence unconfirmed; 2017)

One of the many fanmade logo mockups for the project

Status: Existence unconfirmed

Overview

On November 18th, 2016, Pokemon Sun and Moon was released for the Nintendo 3DS. Kicking off the next generation of Pokemon. At the time, the games were released a month after Nintendo finally revealed Project NX, now known as the Nintendo Switch. Being posed as a home console and a handheld console, fans are wondering if they will have a mainline Pokemon game for the Switch. But during this time, no plans were made.

But around the same month of Sun and Moon's release, Eurogamer has reported on November 18th, 2016, that they heard from multiple sources that a game under the codename of Pokemon Stars is currently under development and was said to be released in late 2017. Seems like a third version (Ex. Pikachu, Emerald, Platinum) would be on the Nintendo Switch. What Pokemon Stars would offer is new Pokemon along with an upgrade for the resolution for the game, being played at 720p. With rumours appearing all over the internet, fans were hyped when a mainline Pokemon game will be coming in a home console. Over the past few months, The Pokemon Company would start the "Look at the Stars" campaign with the release of some star-themed merchandise. And shortly thereafter, Junichi Masuda (Series Director) has made a tweet with the words "Pokemon Stars". Which of course, fans interpreted as a potential teaser for the game. Seems like the hype has increased when Amazon UK had made a listing for Pokemon Stars in mid-2017. With the page selling pre-orders. It was most likely a placeholder as there wasn't any box art and the release date was in January 2030.

During June around the E3 period, Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon was announced and it was listed on The Pokemon Company's official website. Listing both coming for Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. But the Switch listing was quickly removed. As this could've been a mistake. People suspected that Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon could be the Pokemon Stars project as it sounds similar to what the rumour suggested.

Potential Canceliation

Near the release period of Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon release, it seemed like the Pokemon Stars project was cancelled as no mainline Pokemon game came to the Switch. With Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon being a 3DS exclusive. With a mainline Pokemon game not coming until Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee in 2018 and Pokemon Sword and Shield in 2019. Eurogamer writer Tom Phillips who wrote the previous article about Pokemon Stars coming to Switch, came in and stated about what happened with Pokemon Stars. Thanks to him along with the folks over at DidYouKnowGaming, with their video LOST Nintendo Games. Some more information/theories can be gathered that may explain Pokemon Stars' fate. Sources indicated that Stars' cancellation was due to Nintendo's business strategy. After the Wii U's failure, Nintendo originally planned to release 3 games belonging to their biggest IPs. That being Zelda with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario with Super Mario Odyssey, and Pokemon with Project Pokemon Stars. It was meant to be a backup plan in case the Switch was struggling in the market. But plans have changed as not only because the Switch was succeeding, but they were struggling to produce enough of them. So it seems like they had other 3DS games planned to come in the Switch such as Metroid: Samus Returns as backup plans. Nintendo has stated that the Switch and 3DS will co-exist with each other. But just like the GBA and DS, the Switch would phase out the 3DS. Eurogamer has suggested that an up-res'ed 3DS selling at full price ($60) could've damaged the Switch's reputation during its first year. This could be another factor of Stars' cancellation.

While a few fans don't believe him and there were some people who accused of Eurogamer of making it up for clicks and clout. And while there are several hoaxes and fake rumours in the past from other sources. Tom Phillips was a reporter that successfully predicted other products coming before their announcements such as the report of the Switch's design and hardware specs, the SNES Classic, Diablo 3 on Switch and other games.

Another theory that was suggested by DidYouKnowGaming is that someone at Nintendo saw the game running on Switch in HD, and tell someone at Eurogamer. Along with Sun and Moon in the 3DS lacking many features that were in Gen 6 such as numerous features for the bottom screen and a lack of stereoscopic 3D. But it's also possible that was only made for testing purposes. Ohmori and Junichi Masuda had revealed that Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee and Sword & Shield had entered production during Sun & Moon production was almost completed. Both DidYouKnowGaming and Tom have collaborated to reach about 50 developers who worked on Sun & Moon. But they weren't allowed to say anything, most likely due to their own NDA contracts.

Status

While there's a decent amount of information about the game's existence, it's not enough to confirm whether it really exists. And no prototypes or screenshots has been revealed about the game. And no materials haven't been leaked, even with the Nintendo Gigaleak of 2020. So currently it's lost, with its existence being inconclusive.

Sources

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-11-18-nintendo-switch-will-get-pokemon-sun-and-moon-version https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-12-15-so-what-happened-with-pokemon-stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rMVsAZpLMc @ 10:46