Nintendo’s Tease Fuels Speculation About Pokémon Silver and Gold Remakes

The second generation of Pokémon games is often hailed as one of the finest in the series. For many millennials, it served as their introduction to the Pokémon world, bringing in a host of features that became staples, including a day/night cycle, the introduction of steel and dark types, and the ability to breed Pokémon. One of the most exciting aspects was the endgame twist that allowed players to revisit and explore the entire Kanto region after defeating the Elite Four.

Recently, speculation about a return to Johto has been heating up. Nintendo has added to the buzz with a post on social media that hints at a potential Johto-themed announcement on the horizon.

The post features a screenshot from the game, accompanied by a caption mentioning “silver” and “gold,” the titles of the original second-generation games. The image depicts a scene where the player’s rival is seen peering through the window of Professor Elm’s lab. But what could this post signify?

There are numerous theories circulating. One possibility is that the next region in the upcoming game, set to launch in 2027 with its third expansion, might be inspired by a town from Johto. So far, all regions in the game have drawn from Kanto, the setting of the first generation.

Alternatively, this could hint at something more significant. Could we finally see Pokémon Let’s Go games set in Johto, following the Kanto-themed Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee? The aesthetics of Pokémon and Let’s Go are quite similar, with the former even reusing some assets from the latter. Given that it’s been eight years since Pikachu & Eevee were released, the timing seems right. Plus, there are plenty of charming second-generation Pokémon that could serve as mascots, like Togepi, Elekid, Magby, Phanpy, Cleffa, Igglybuff, and Mareep, to name a few.

Another possibility is that we might be on the verge of seeing Johto ports for the Nintendo Switch. The remakes of Pokémon Fire Red & Leaf Green, which came out in 2004, were released on the console earlier this year. It’s conceivable that Heart Gold & Soul Silver, the 2009 remakes of Gold & Silver, could be next.

There’s also the chance that The Pokémon Company is developing full-fledged modern remakes of the Johto region, similar to the less popular Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. While there might be some hesitation due to the mixed reception of those remakes, a new take on Johto would still be a welcome surprise.

One interesting theory from a Reddit user suggests that the caption could imply that Ho-Oh and Lugia will finally be able to join your town in Pokémon. Currently, these legendary birds can be seen soaring above, occasionally dropping either a Rainbow or Silver Feather, but they can’t be recruited like the legendary birds from the first generation.

At the end of the day, it might just be a social media post without any deeper meaning. It was followed by a Nintendo post promoting Pokémon, encouraging players to “recreate memorable moments,” so perhaps that’s all there is to it. Still, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a new Johto game.

And on another note, we finally know who the official Hoenn champion is!