The wait is nearly over for fans looking to purchasePokemon Legends: Arceus.Initially announced in February 2021, the newest Switch exclusive plans to givePokemonfans a wildly new experience as the trailers dropping forPokemon Legends: Arceushas been hyping fans up for when they can finally grab the game on January 28. Now the game has been rated by the ESRB, though the details of the rating have some concerned.
ESRB ratings are a formality preceeding the release of games. Usually an ESRB rating is a good indication that a game is nearly ready to be shipped.Digimon Survivefans have been eagerly awaiting an announcementfor that game’s release since it was officially rated a couple of months ago. Returning toPokemon Legends: Arceusthough, the ESRB rating is mostly what anyPokemonfan would expect. Given the target audience of mostPokemongames,Legends: Arceusis rated E for Everyone, citing mild fantasy violence as the only thing prospective buyers should be worried about.
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Underneath the official rating though, is something that has a fewPokemonfans concerned with the mention of in-game purchases. As a single player experience,Pokemon Legends: Arceushas seemingly little reason to include in-game purchases, especially considering the younger target audience ofPokemon. What makes this mention of in-game purchases stranger still is the fact that in none of thereleased trailers forPokemon Legends: Arceus, nor the details about the game have in-game purchases been mentioned.
ForPokemonfans who were hoping to keep in-game purchases away from their favorite franchise, there is some hope, asBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearlboth mentioned in-game purchases in their ESRB ratings, and yet didn’t feature any. The Gen 4 remasters have been keepingPokemonfans busy as they wait for the release ofPokemon Legends: Arceus, with plenty of singleplayer content to be found without the inclusion of in-game purchases. Even thoughPokemon Legends: Arceusisn’t a fully open-world experience, itstill has plenty of exploration to offer.
DespiteBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearlbeing free of in-game purchases,Pokemonhas dipped its toe into in-game purchases before, though this was through the online MOBAPokemon Unite.The game, which sees players taking control of onePokemonand battling against a team of five opponents, has faced criticism for having two $40 skins available for purchase withinthePokemon Uniteshop. Fans are concerned that the in-game purchases often found in multiplayer games will make their way to the singleplayerPokemongames. Though for now, all fans can do is wait and see what occurs inPokemon Legends: Arceus.
