Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl announced for Nintendo Switch

Pokemon Diamond Pearl starters
Pokemon Diamond Pearl starters (Image credit: The Pokemon Company (screenshot))

What you need to know

  • The generation 4 games on the Nintendo DS, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, are being remade on the Nintendo Switch system.
  • The new games are called Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
  • The games are set to release in late 2021.

The Pokémon Company has announced in their Pokémon Presents presentation that the 2006 Pokémon games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, are being remade for the Nintendo Switch.

The new remakes, called Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, are being developed by ICLA and will be directed by Yuichi Ueda from ILCA Inc. and Junichi Masuda from GAME FREAK Inc. GAME FREAK Inc. have been in charge of developing all the previous mainline Pokémon games, so this is a first for the franchise since 1996.

The remakes are taking on a new art direction with a chibi art style, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which is also a first for the series.

The Pokémon Company has stated that Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will be released on the Nintendo Switch in late 2021, although no official release date has been confirmed. The current trend for Pokémon games is a late fall or winter release, so we will see whether this game keeps up with the trend. We will be sure to update you once any new information arises in any future announcements.

Pokémon Sword and Shield are still the latest and most popular mainline games in the series, but with the Diamond and Pearl games being super popular on the Nintendo DS, this remake might end up being one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch.

Nadine Dornieden
Contributor

Nadine is a freelance writer for iMore with a specialty in all things Nintendo, often working on news, guides, reviews, and editorials. She's been a huge Nintendo fan ever since she got to pet her very own Nintendog, and enjoys looking at Nintendo's place in the video game industry. Writing is her passion, but she mostly does it so that she can pay off her ever-growing debt to Tom Nook. Her favorite genres are simulation games, rhythm games, visual novels, and platformers. You can find her at @stopthenadness on Twitter, where she'll more than likely be reposting cute Animal Crossing content.