Press Release

DETECTIVE PIKACHU RETURNS RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED

​​​​​​​More details also revealed for The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero for Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet

BELLEVUE, WA—June 21, 2023—During a Nintendo Direct today, The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo announced that Detective Pikachu Returns is scheduled to release exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023.

More details were also shared for The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, the upcoming downloadable content for the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games.

Detective Pikachu Returns Coming Soon to Nintendo Switch Systems
This new title once again stars the one and only tough-talking, coffee-loving Detective Pikachu and his trusty partner, Tim Goodman. With the help of many other Pokémon, Tim and Pikachu work together to solve a series of mysterious incidents that are occurring in Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokémon live side by side.

For more information on the Detective Pikachu Returns video game, please click here.

Explore Mossui Town in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask
In Part 1: The Teal Mask, players will head to Mossui Town in the land of Kitakami. The community center in the middle of Mossui Town is a public gathering place where the locals can get together and chat, but it will also serve as the players' base of operations for the duration of the school trip. There’s a shop nearby with toys and magazines on display, and just outside town, you’ll be treated to a view of picturesque fields and rice paddies.

Investigate Four Unique Biomes in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Disk
Blueberry Academy, where players will go to study abroad in Part 2: The Indigo Disk, is home to a facility called the Terarium Dome, which maintains a variety of ecosystems that provide a livable environment for Pokémon. This world-renowned park beneath the sea was constructed to bolster the learning environment for strong Trainers. The Terarium Dome is made up of four areas, each of which features a unique climate and ecosystem. The artificial sky projected onto the ceiling and walls changes to reflect the time of day and weather. The temperature of each area is also carefully regulated, and Trainers will find completely different Pokémon in each area.

New Characters Revealed
Players will meet plenty of new people while studying abroad at Blueberry Academy. Among them are Cyrano—the founder and director of the academy—and Lacey, a student there.

Having heard rumors about the player and their adventures, Cyrano visits Paldea to invite them to his institution as an exchange student. It seems that he is a longtime acquaintance of Director Clavell.

Lacey is a second-year student at Blueberry Academy. She’s a reliable person who shows the player around the academy when they first arrive. Her Pokémon battling skills are apparently nothing to scoff at.

Discover Different Pokémon Depending on the Version of the Game Being Played
The Pokémon players will meet in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero will differ depending on which game the downloadable content is for. For example, in Pokémon Scarlet, players will be able to encounter Gligar, while in Pokémon Violet, players will be able to encounter Aipom.

For more information about The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, please visit Pokemon.com/ScarletViolet.

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About Pokémon 
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit https://www.pokemon.com/.

About Nintendo 
Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario™, Donkey Kong™, The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Pokémon™, Animal Crossing™, Pikmin™ and Splatoon™, through its integrated hardware and software products. Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks. Nintendo has sold more than 5.4 billion video games and over 800 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo.com/.