When Does Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Release?

I just knew, back when they announced Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, we were gonna see this game release in November. You know how I knew? Because November is the start of the holiday shopping season, and if any game franchise were a mainstay of the Black Friday rush, it’d be Pokemon. Let’s find out if I was right, then: when does Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release?

When Does Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Release?

Well, it seems I’m a bona fide psychic because Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are indeed releasing in November. Specifically, they’re releasing worldwide simultaneously on Friday, November 18th, 2022. Yep, that’s right: one week before Black Friday. Goodness gracious, it’s going to be a full-on frenzy for these things at your local Walmart.

The game will be available in physical Nintendo Switch cartridges, of course, though you can also buy it digitally from the Switch eShop if you’d rather not get trampled. In either case, pre-orders are open now on both the eShop and at most major retailers, where the game costs $59.99 USD, plus, you’ll receive up to 300 Gold Points if you pre-order from the eShop.

No word yet on whether or not Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will have any manner of post-launch DLC or updates in the same way Pokemon Sword and Shield did. If anything in that vein is planned, we’ll likely hear more about it closer to or after the release of the main games.

In the meantime, keep your ear to the ground for any Scarlet and Violet-adjacent news in other Pokemon games. While not guaranteed, there is a distinct chance we could see some manner of promotional or crossover content in games like Pokemon GO, Pokemon Unite, or Pokemon Legends: Arceus. While the new Pokemon from Scarlet and Violet probably won’t be added to those games any time soon, there may be events to celebrate their release.