It’s coming up to a year since Nintendo and Game Freak first released Pokémon Scarlet and Violet onto the Nintendo Switch, and while the companies kept the fandom alive with new tera raids and the addition of some new Pokémon, here we finally are with some major new content. The Teal Mask is the first of two DLC packs, with the second DLC – The Indigo Disc – arriving in Winter 2023.
Previously, Game Freak dramatically expanded the titles Pokémon Sword and Shield with DLC, with the Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra updates adding new Pokémon, new features, and fun, fresh areas to explore featuring some different climates. Crucially, the team also included slight updates to the game, such as new battle items, new ways to catch legendaries, and even mechanics to change or increase Pokémon’s stats.
Why do I bring this up? Well, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet might be better games than Sword and Shield from a gameplay and design perspective, but when it comes to performance, Scarlet and Violet are on the back foot. Fans have already given generation nine lots of outrage, as Scarlet and Violet quite simply look bad and run even worse. Game Freak’s ambition of a truly open-world Pokémon game is an admirable one, but the execution is… sadly a bit Gloom-y.