New Pokémon Snap is coming to Nintendo Switch on 30 April this year. The unexpected sequel to the much-loved 1999 classic was announced last summer, but Nintendo warned us it would be a while before it actually released.
It looks like our patience has paid off, however, as Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have just confirmed the release date for New Pokémon Snap as part of the franchises' ongoing 25th anniversary celebrations. Here's hoping this is the first of many surprise announcements/reveals over the next few months.
Take a look at the brand-new release date trailer below:
For those unfamiliar with the concept, New Pokémon Snap is essentially an on-rails shooter. Except instead of gunning down zombies or dinosaurs, you're taking pictures of adorable Pokémon on safari. Your aim is to snap 'em all, and you'll get more points for better pictures, which can ultimately lead to opportunities to come across rarer monsters.
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The original game is still massively adored to this day, and fans have spent the last 20 years wondering why exactly we don't have a sequel yet. At long last, we don't have to wonder anymore. 30 April. I still can't quite get over it.
"Get ready to visit the many beautiful isles of the Lental region in New Pokémon Snap," The Pokémon Company wrote in a press release. "Filled with diverse ecosystems from dense jungles to vast deserts, the archipelago of the region is an untouched natural marvel, packed to the brim with Pokémon just waiting to be seen. In New Pokémon Snap, players will take on the role of a budding Pokémon photographer and work with Professor Mirror and his assistant, Rita, on an ecological survey to photograph Lental Pokémon thriving in nature.
"The untouched expanses of the Lental region may sound intimidating at first, but don't worry-the NEO-ONE will be on hand to keep you safe. When visiting an island, players will hop into the NEO-ONE and be auto-driven across various paths on the island, freeing them up to focus on snapping the perfect shots."
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In New Pokémon Snap, much like the original game, players will be able to find and snap monsters in their natural environments. The press release teases that we'll find them in all sorts of places, from patrolling their territory to playing with other species of Pokémon. Players will be able to interact with the critters by throwing out a special kind of fruit called fluffruit to get the best shots, and even draw out monsters to get them to react in different situations.
As in the original game, players will be judged based on the quality of their shots. The more adept they get, the more of the world they'll unlock and the more opportunities for new and exciting photographs will become available to them. Sign. Me. Up.