Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee combine some core Pokemon mechanics with the capture system of Go on Nintendo Switch. Kevin and Tony explain why that combo, plus co-op features and some quality-of-life changes, should make it a great choice for first-time trainers.

We fought Deoxys in an invitation-only EX Raid. Watch the full battle, including a successful catch.

Could we ever see a truly open-world Pokemon game? Something akin to what players experienced in Zelda: Breath of the Wild? That's exactly what Eurogamer asked Pokemon Co.'s Junichi Masuda. While he didn't exactly give a complete thumbs up to the idea, he did seem receptive to it.

Well you know in general, I always want to be kind of facing new challenges and trying to you know, do new things with Pokémon. You know it's a different matter whether players will actually enjoy that kind of playstyle, but really you know, things like setting up an AI so that you know real world Pokémon appear, or different ways to appreciate the game, I'm always kind of thinking how to approach the Pokémon series from a different aspect so, in that sense, it's still on the cards.

Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee are clearly the focus for Nintendo and Pokemon Co. this year, but a lot of fans are already looking forward to what Pokemon is going to bring in 2019. We know a core RPG is in development for Switch, but when exactly are we going to get some details? Pokemon Co.'s Junichi Masuda wasn't ready to commit to a specific time, but he did say that we can expect to hear things, "Sometime... next year."

Yesterday we talked about the collaboration between The Pokemon Company and the Tokyo Art Museum for some special Pokemon cards based on the famous painting, 'The Scream.' Today we learn that even more merch is on the way, and some will be exclusive to Pokemon Centers, while others can only be found at the Museum. Here's the rundown of the merch revealed so far.

The Scream Pikachu Plush – 1400 yen (exclusive to museum)
Art Keychain (Pikachu, Eevee, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Rowlet) – 400 yen each (capsule machine, exclusive to museum)
iPhone Case (Pikachu, Eevee, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Rowlet) – 2160 yen each
Pokemon TCG Mini Card Album with Mimikyu Promo Card – 480 yen
Post Card Set (Pikachu, Eevee, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Rowlet) – 850 yen each
Microfiber Cloth (Pikachu, Eevee, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Rowlet) – 600 yen each
Clear File (Pikachu, Eevee, Mimikyu, Psyduck, Rowlet) – 400 yen each

Just a few days back, the Pokemon Hub in Hong Kong announced it was closing its shop in the K11 Mall in Hong Kong. Good news though, as the Hub is coming back in a new location! You'll be able to check out the new Pokemon Hub at Langham Place, a shopping mall in Hong Kong’s Mongkok district. No details on the opening date have been shared as of this time.

The Pokemon TCG: GX Ultra Shiny series of cards doesn't come out in Japan until Nov. 2nd, 2018, but today we get a look at some cards that'll be included in the pack. If you want to check out more of the cards you could potentially find inside packs, check out the gallery here.

The reveal of Meltan in Pokemon GO was a pretty big deal. It's unlike anything the Pokemon Co. had done before. It was so different from the norms that most players thought the reveal was an accident! Now we know it was all planned, and Pokemon Co. director Junichi Masuda has opened up about the whole process.

So actually yeah we tried really hard on this one - we didn't even tell company players, so even some of us were surprised when this came out as well, so only a few people know about the plan in advance so it really was a well-kept secret.

So in terms of who made the decision, so it was TCPI's PR team and Niantic, and also myself who got together and started talking about it, and really we were thinking about how we wanted people to first lay eyes on Meltan, and how to kind of make it appear like a cute Pokémon right from the start, so some people might look at it, if it were handled the wrong way, as "oh it's like a gross Pokémon", but they had it appear in Pokémon Go, kind of moving around, doing it's thing, and then you know, people would be like "Ooh, what's this now?!" And we thought that was the best way to kind of have Meltan first appear to the world.

In many ways, Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee is taking things back to the basics for Pokemon. There's some new features and enhanced visuals over previous games, but it's very clear the dev team is aiming for a title that eases lapsed fans and newcomers into the world of Pokemon. In an interview with Verge, director Junichi Masuda explains his hopes for Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, as far as the rest of the franchise goes.

“The biggest thing I feel with Let’s Go is really hoping that it’s going to serve as sort of a base or starting point for the next 20 years of Pokémon. I really think it’s important that Pokémon continues to be a positive force in the world — makes people happier, enriches their lives through a variety of ways. But I don’t think it needs to be a consistent, unchanging experience necessarily. I think there’s still a lot of room to explore variety, not only through the main series of games but also through the more spinoff titles.”

- up to 100 players can earn an invite to the Pokémon Japan Championships 2019
- this is done through online competitions

November brings the 2018 International Challenge November, which runs rules on the Sun Series of VGC 2019 which bans Mega Evolutions, Primal Reversions and Z-Crystals. The top 30 Japanese players earn an invite.

February brings the 2019 International Challenge February, which runs rules of the Moon Series of VGC 2019 which bans Mega Evolutions, Primal Reversions and Ultra Necrozma. The top 30 Japanese players earn an invite.

In April, the Japan only online competition, the Pokémon Japan Championships 2019 qualifiers will run, which run the Ultra Series of VGC 2019 which allows all Z-Crystals and Mega Evolutions. The top 40 players earn an invite.