Summary
Rumors have been ramping up over the return ofPokemon Black and White’s Unova region, with many believing that the region will soon be explored in a standalone title. The mention ofUnova was brought forth by Ms. BriarofPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC, indicating that the Blueberry Academy setting of the upcoming Indigo Disk DLC will take place in the region. While the Indigo Disk DLC looks to be contained within the Academy’s confines, its relevance along with the pattern set up by priorPokemonreleases could hint at other, more substantial Unova appearances in the future.
Because Gen 5 is next on the list for the remake treatment, many have been speculating thatBlack and Whiteremakes will be the next course of action for ThePokemonCompany’s release schedule. Because of the unique situation regardingBlack and Whitehaving received direct sequels, however, this poses an interesting challenge. Making one-to-one remakes ofBlack and Whitecould be a successful endeavor, though this would inevitably leave out features and story advancements made inBlack and White 2, posing the question of whetherBlack and White 3games would be a smarter move.
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Unova Could Be Spotlighted in Pokemon Black and White Remakes, a Legends Game, or Black and White 3
Black and White 3games would allow for more creative leeway while working from the region’s referential treatment, though it can be argued that they wouldn’t be entirely necessary given howBlack and White 2ended their stories. An alternative could be toremakeBlack and White’s plotwhile incorporating a few of the add-on features seen in their sequels, which might be the best track for newcomers who weren’t able to experience the originals. Still, given how some of the region’s locations and characters develop in the two-year gap betweenBlack and Whiteand their sequels, some compromises would need to be made in terms of which direction to go in.
There has also been speculation ofa newLegendsgame set in the Unova region, which would be another viable option to consider. Like Gen 4’s treatment, this could be a concurrent release alongsideBlack and Whiteremakes, which would leave plenty of room for the region to be spotlighted. Some working theories have considered thatScarlet and Violet’s feature of the Blueberry Academy could be a hint towards this, though others have leaned towards the idea of Gen 2 beingLegends' next contender, given Perrin’s appearance in The Teal Mask’s Kitakami, a land that many believe to be a part of the Johto region.
Depending on how the plot ofScarlet and Violet’s Indigo Disk DLCtranspires, there could even be the option of exploring a modern-day Unova following its events in the timeline. Such treatment would correspond with aBlack and White 3type of situation, which could have interesting plot implications if connected to Paldea and its Terastal Phenomenon. BecauseBlack and Whiteand their sequels hold up quite well in their visuals, it could be that the remake treatment focuses more on story or mechanical changes to reinvent the wheel, making this another viable choice.
Seeing more of the Indigo Disk DLC could clue players in tohow Unova might be featured again in future titles. The versatility of the region and the themes ofBlack and Whitepoint toward a number of directions that can be taken; whether spotlighted in the distant past through aLegendstitle, a modern-day rendition in aBlack and White3, or through a more faithful one-to-one remake, there’s certainly much to be considered for howPokemonGen 5 will make its official return.
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