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Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet launched on Nintendo Switch on November 18, 2022, amid criticism of their technical condition. Nintendo later acknowledged that players might encounter issues affecting performance and said it was working on improvements. Its first update notes, however, listed a few selected changes—not a comprehensive performance repair—and the available update history does not establish that every launch performance problem was fixed.
What was reported at launch?
Contemporaneous coverage described player concerns about technical issues and performance when the games arrived. Nintendo had announced the November 18, 2022 release date for both Switch titles, which it described as the first open-world RPGs in the Pokémon series. Nintendo of Canada’s launch announcement provides the release context; Nintendo Life’s December 2, 2022 report documents the contemporaneous criticism.
The evidence supports describing broad performance and technical concerns, not publishing a definitive inventory of launch bugs. Nintendo’s statement acknowledged possible performance issues but did not confirm every specific problem reported by players. The cited sources also do not provide controlled before-and-after performance measurements.
What did Nintendo say about the problems?
In its announcement for version 1.1.0, The Pokémon Company said: “We are aware that players may encounter issues that affect the games’ performance. Our goal is always to give players a positive experience with our games, and we apologize for the inconvenience. We take the feedback from players seriously and are working on improvements to the games.” The official announcement expressed awareness, an apology and an intention to improve the games. It was not confirmation that all reported issues had been identified or repaired.
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- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
What did the first update change?
The official announcement, dated December 1, 2022, said version 1.1.0 would release on December 2. It listed these items:
- Ranked Battles Season 1 began.
- A bug causing music not to play correctly during Elite Four and Top Champion battles was fixed.
- “Other select bug fixes” were included.
The listed notes identify a discrete music bug and other selected fixes, but do not describe a broad performance optimization. The announcement’s stated release date is the official date; rollout timing could differ by region.
Rank #2
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
Did later updates fix the launch performance issues?
Nintendo’s official update history records further updates after version 1.1.0. For example, version 1.2.0 included fixes affecting game progress and Tera Raid Battles, while subsequent notes document other changes and fixes. These entries establish that the games received ongoing fixes; they do not certify that every launch performance concern was eliminated. The cited official notes do not offer a measured comparison of performance before and after updates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did the launch perform commercially?
Technical criticism coexisted with strong initial sales. Nintendo reported that Scarlet and Violet together sold 10 million copies worldwide in their first three days, including 4.05 million in Japan. The November 24, 2022 release said the figures included physical and downloaded copies and set a record at that time for three-day sales of software for Nintendo’s dedicated game platforms. Nintendo’s corporate release reports the figures; sales alone do not establish how players felt about the games’ technical condition.
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Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Rank #3
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
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