It won't be much longer 'til gamers are knee deep in more Pokemon, as Pokemon X and Pokemon Y's release is just around the corner, due to hit Nintendo's 2DS and 3DS this Saturday.
Despite that the games aren't even out yet, rumors have it that Nintendo is already, and has been working on an offshoot title for the insanely popular Pikachu.
Multiple outlets including Gematsu, Joystiq, and Kotaku are all reporting that Japanese TV station NHK Professional will feature an appearance from Pokemon Company president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara later this month.
There's nothing official from the company or Nintendo, but the network's website speculates about a new title that's been in development since the summer. As the network is the closest source and the one hosting the CEO, it seems legitimate.
The description goes on to mention the game's rosy-cheeked electric mascot Pikachu. However, another statement from NHK seemed to indicate there's some doubt about the success of the game, and the possible effect it could have, which would indicate it's a completely different style of Pokemon game: "This summer, Ishihara started development on a never before seen game. It's a new game featuring the very popular character Pikachu in a bold way. There is concern, however, that if it's bad the long loved character would lose popularity in the blink of an eye." Rumors point to the game being some type of fighting game, or at least something completely different than any sort of Pokemon game we've seen before.
While Pikachu's been the cover of his own Pokemon game, the game only featured the mousey superconductor as a starter pokemon, and nothing more. It was on the television show where Pikachu rose to acclaim and essentially became the face of the brand. He's featured in a number of other Nintendo titles, like various appearances in the Smash Bros. series, but this would be his first game all his own.
The latest Pokemon games, Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, launches worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS, launch worlwide the same day, October 12. The company is holding a launch event in New York's Rockefeller Plaza to celebrate the games' release.
We'll follow up once Ishihara's appearance is complete.
