Summary
New Pokemon Snapwill be the firstPokemongame to be released in China since 2000.New Pokemon Snapis the first game of this franchise to launch in the country following the complete ban on production, import, and sales of video game consoles that was in effect from 2000 to 2015 in China, leading the way for the release of more Nintendo titles.
Back in 2000, the Chinese government imposed a near-complete ban on video game consoles due to concerns about video game addiction and its negative influence on younger players. Some consoles were still released in China during the ban, such as Sony’s PlayStation 2 in 2004 and some of Nintendo’s consoles thanks to a partnership with iQue. The ban was lifted in 2015, allowingChinese players to discover the latest consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, among others. The Nintendo Switch was released in China in 2019. Nintendo’s console featured significantly fewer games due to various restrictions imposed by the Chinese government as it continues its policy to protect the youth against the dangers of video game addiction.
As reported by Chinese Nintendo,New Pokemon Snapwas officially released in China on July 16, making it the firstPokemongame to launch in the country following the 2000s console ban.Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eeveewill seemingly be the nextPokemongames to launch in China, withThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, andImmortals Fenyx Risingalso getting prepared for release. With some of thebest Nintendo Switch gamesjoining the lineup of this region-locked console, more games could soon be available for players in China.
New Pokemon Snap Releases in China
This version ofNew Pokemon Snapcomes with some modifications compared to its international version to fit theChinese government’s rules on video gamesand make it suitable for the country. The sun symbols and icons have their triangular rays replaced with dots or rectangles, possibly due to their resemblance to the Taiwan or Kuomintang emblems. The Taiwanese flag features a white sun with triangular rays in its top left corner similar toNew Pokemon Snap’s profile icon. The Chinese Nationalist Party, also known as Kuomintang, has a similar emblem which may be the reason behind the decision to change the shape of the sun icons in this Chinese version ofNew Pokemon Snap.
New Pokemon Snapis a unique take on thePokemonfranchise, offering a different way to interact with the pocket monsters in their natural habitat. The release ofNew Pokemon Snapin China will allow more players to discover over 200 creatures hidden across various biomes, from lush forests to volcanoes and snowfields.
New Pokémon Snap
WHERE TO PLAY
This new game brings the gameplay of the 1999Pokémon Snapgame for the Nintendo 64™ system to life on the Nintendo Switch system with unknown islands to discover and different Pokémon to see! Photograph lively wild Pokémon in their natural habitats as you research and explore unknown islands. Hop in your trusty travel pod, the NEO-ONE, and journey through a variety of environments such as beaches, jungles, and deserts to capture previously-unseen Pokémon behaviors. You can even play a melody or toss Pokémon a delicious fluffruit to catch their attention. Photos you take can also be used to fill out your very own Pokémon Photodex! Your photos are scored based on the Pokémon’s poses, how large they appear, how directly they’re facing you, and other factors. You may even snap a four star-worthy photo if you catch rare Pokémon behaviors. These scores can be shared via in-game rankings* so you can compare your shots with other Pokémon photographers around the world. In the Lental region, Pokémon and vegetation have sometimes been seen to glow. Meet Professor Mirror and work with him to uncover the mystery of the Illumina phenomenon. Your photos and observations may be key to learning about this strange occurrence.
