‘Pokémon Z’ or ‘Pokémon GO’ Release Date: Pokémon Super Bowl 50 Commercial Doesn’t Give Any Details, but Look For More Details at GDC 2016

Feb 09, 2016 03:02 PM EST

Super Bowl 50 had its usual round of million dollar commercials, and one of them was for Pokémon.  It was predicted that Pokémon would use the Super Bowl to finally give a release date on either Pokémon Z or Pokémon GO, or perhaps the release date on both long-awaited games from the franchise.  As it was, it was a very inspirational ad celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, in general.  Even though Pokémon didn't use the Super Bowl ad as a platform to announce Pokémon Z or Pokémon GO, details are reportedly coming, at least for one of these games. 

Gotta Be Mobile reports that neither Pokémon and Nintendo aren't ready to talk about the release date, but there could be something happening at the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) 2016.  The CEO of Niantic Labs is going to discuss Pokémon GO in great detail.  Niantic Labs using their location-based technology from their Ingress game to make another location-based game with GPS sensors as well as a special (yet optional) accessory that looks like a Pokémon Ball to allow users to catch different creatures and battle with their friends as they walk in the real world. 

John Hanke, the CEO for Niantic, states that "attendees will get a first-hand, in-depth look at how players are interacting and exploring the world with one another through Pokémon GO", according to the GDF schedule.  It also says how Hanke and Niantic developed a unique vision for delivering a mobile Pokémon experience where people get to train outdoors. 

As for the Pokémon Z game, there is still no word of when this game will have its release date.  There are rumors that it would be released at the same time as Pokémon GO, but the follow-up to Pokémon X and Y still has had no formal announcement.  The Z in the title comes from the letters after X and Y, and there are a lot of news around the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde creature.  According to the Bit Bag, many are expecting a whole new realm, more Pokémon, more Mega-evolutions, and possibly smartphone accessibility. 

So, that is no word on Pokémon Z, but it is possible that Pokémon GO could have a release date announcement at GDC 2016, and it will take place in San Francisco, California, on March 14-18.  This means that the rumored release date of Pokémon GO in February will not happen, as it was previously rumored.  Chances are, the GDC will give just a release date, and that could easily be months away. 

If Pokémon really wants to make a game where players are in real-time locations, it would make sense to release it in the summertime, when the warm outdoor weather would make it a prime time to search for Pokémon in real life.