Pokemon Go needs to move on from Kanto region

Niantic are all set to bring several Pokemon Go updates with the Rediscover Go initiative, but delivering yet another Kanto-focused event alongside the changes is not the best idea.

Pokemon Go has players on their toes as the devs Niantic announced several new updates involving AR, in-game avatars, and biomes. There will be new ways to adventure and catch Pokemon like never before, but the Rediscover Kanto feature is failing to excite.

The very first Generation of Pokemon has a nostalgic presence, but over the years, fans of the mobile game have grown sick of seeing them featured in every other event. The mainline games are no different, as the Gen 1 starters received Mega Evolutions and Gigantamax forms, including two Megas for Charizard and Mewtwo.

Featuring Gen 1 in multiple Pokemon Go events might have been well received had Niantic given the same love to other regions. Players still can’t wrap their heads around the absence of the Galar region.

While Legendaries like Zacian and Zamazenta, and the popular Falinks are available, alongside some Galarian forms of Kanto Pokemon, they were introduced way back in 2021, and the majority of Gen 8 is still missing.

To rub salt in the wounds of fans eager to have more Gen 8 additions, Pokemon Go added a huge roster of Gen 9 species, including the starters and the region’s Pseudo Legendary, Baxcalibur. All of this has had a domino effect on players who slammed Rediscover Kanto in a post on Reddit where the sentiment was: “Oh boy who’s ready for Kanto… Again!!”

Comments by disappointed trainers included: “Poor predictable TPC (The Pokemon Company), always takes Kanto” and “Meanwhile the Galar starters and just Galar as a whole have been left in a hot car.”

Others expressed that they wouldn’t mind a Kanto event as long as it’s something new altogether, such as including the Gen 1 regional Pokemon in 7km Eggs or the release of Mega Mewtwo in Raids.

While these two new features are highly unlikely to arrive, Pokemon Go needs to shake up the formula when it comes to the Kanto region to spark players’ interest once again.