Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire remakes on the way for 3DS?
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire remakes for 3DS hinted at by Gamefreak board of directors member.
By Kevin Douglas Femmel
(Oct. 12 2011) — Every few years Gamefreak remakes one of the older Pokemon games, and Ruby/Sapphire are next in line for revamping. This isn’t a hard conclusion to come to. The 3DS would be the perfect platform for these remakes, and a member of Gamefreak’s board of directors is open to the idea.
When asked by a follower on Twitter, Gamefreak’s Junichi Masuda said, “Thanks for your thoughts. Ruby and Sapphire are important games to me. I will consider your request.” This is a long way from confirmation of any sort of development, but it is a positive sign. The Nintendo 3DS platform will be home to future Pokemon RPGs, and it would make sense if they started slowly with remakes of the GBA classics, and an eventual Pokemon Grey version, before going fully 3D with the inevitable evolution of Pokemon games that a entirely original Pokemon for the 3DS would require.
Most people will expect some big changes to the series, at least graphically, whenever it hits the 3DS. Remaking Ruby/Sapphire would give Gamefreak more time to mull over what they will change in the series to suite Nintendo’s latest handheld. I’m sure Gamefreak is up to something, and a statement like “I will consider your request” indicates that the development of 3DS versions of Ruby/Sapphire haven’t begun. But Gamefreak has to be up to something since Black/White released earlier this year, and there hasn’t been an announcement from them concerning that.
This leads me to believe, as it will others, that Gamefreak is working on a new Pokemon game but it isn’t a remake of the GBA entries, rather it is more than likely Pokemon Grey version, a mixing of Black/White. They have said they may not make a third edition of Black/White, but I doubt they will walk away from the money they can reap. Also, a 2013 release for Pokemon Grey on 3DS would be a huge boost for Nintendo as 2012 is already well supported by Resident Evil: Revelations, Kid Icarus, Luigi’s Mansion 2 and Animal Crossing.
I’m willing to bet by March 2013 we’re all catching Pokemon in 3D, but probably in a familiar territory rather than a new one, and Junichi Masuda only gives more hope to that possibility.
Credit to GoNintendo for their post on this as well as Junichi’s Twitter
