Nintendo trademarked the Pokémon Delta Emerald moniker but never used it, implying that an Emerald remake was planned in the past.
Nintendo once patented the term “Delta Emerald” in Japan, implying that a Pokémon Emerald remake was planned at some point. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire both received Nintendo 3DS remakes; however, Pokémon Emerald has yet to be remade.
The Pokémon Company has been steadily releasing remakes of classic Pokémon games on new platforms, with the next two being Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on Nintendo Switch.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Generation III games for the Nintendo 3DS. These games introduced new components from the current Pokémon titles, like Mega Evolution and online play.
Mega Rayquaza traveled to space to confront Deoxys in the Delta Episode, which was added at the end of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
This led many to believe that it was the same as content from Pokémon Emerald. A few months before the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Gematsu announced that Nintendo had trademarked the name Delta Emerald in Japan.
This caused many fans to anticipate that a third Hoenn remake would be produced following Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. This was reinforced by the Battle Frontier’s absence from the remakes, as well as a notice in the Battle Resort stating that “The Battle Frontier Project Has Started.”
Pokémon Delta Emerald was never released, and neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company made an official announcement about it.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Are Not Proper Emerald Remakes
At first sight, it seems that 2014’s Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire on Nintendo 3DS may also serve as Emerald remakes. However, these remakes only adopted Ruby and Sapphire, leaving most of what made Emerald unique.
Absent from ORAS were:
- The Battle Frontier has seven amenities.
- Rayquaza and Deoxys had legendary encounters.
- Emerald’s customized Battle Pike features unique movements and sprites.
“I was really disappointed to see so much of Emerald missing,” explains competitive Pokémon player Wolfe Glick. While ORAS introduced new mechanics such as Mega Evolution, without Emerald’s unique elements, they felt more like Ruby/Sapphire reimaginings.
Hardcore Hoenn fans still yearn for the opportunity to really re-experience Emerald in an adventure dedicated to it alone, rather than alongside Ruby and Sapphire. Nintendo seems to be aware of this demand.
What Could a Pokémon Emerald Remake on the Nintendo Switch Look Like?
With the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch, an Emerald remake has enormous promise. Game Freak could entirely rebuild Hoenn with today’s graphical detail, bringing back what fans liked the most.
Consider traversing a lush 3D Hoenn region and then landing on an immersive HD Battle Frontier. How exciting would it be to confront your opponents at the Battle Palace, try your luck at the Battle Pike, or defeat the greatest Trainers at the Battle Tower.
Emerald animations and sprites that had been faithfully adapted would be given new life. We may tame primal legendaries Groudon and Kyogre before heading up to catch the mighty Rayquaza. Furthermore, with the potential addition of newer species to the Pokédex, the possibilities are unlimited.
Creating such a remake raises obstacles. According to James Turner of Game Freak, “It’s very difficult to take what was originally pixel art and 3D-ify that.” However, as demonstrated in Link’s Awakening, recreating pixelated classics as stunning modern games may be done beautifully.
Given Nintendo’s strong Switch technology and Game Freak’s technological prowess, a remake might bring this legendary Hoenn trip to new heights.
Will Pokémon Emerald Ever Get Its Due?
So, when will faithful Hoenn fans get the full-fledged Emerald remake they deserve? While Nintendo has not made an official announcement, I feel it is close.
Game Freak understands how popular Emerald is. Over 15 years later, it remains one of the most talked-about and sought-after Pokémon remakes. The Nintendo Switch is the ideal hardware to realize it.
With Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl set to release in November, don’t be shocked if an Emerald remake is confirmed sometime in 2022. It could be released as early as late 2022, following the traditional Pokémon remake timeline. Alternatively, it may come in 2023, depending on development timetables.
Either way, I’m convinced Game Freak will provide the gift of Pokémon Emerald resurrected on Nintendo Switch; it’s only a matter of time! As someone who spent hours exploring Hoenn as a child, it would be a dream come true to return with new surprises, challenges, and Pokémon to discover.
When the time comes to return to the Battle Frontier, dive deep to awaken Rayquaza, and establish our worth as Hoenn’s ultimate Pokémon trainers, it will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience for fans. We can rest assured that Game Freak will not allow one of Pokémon’s most memorable generational journeys to be forgotten.
