A special crossover event in Pokémon GO is one of multiple promotions planned to celebrate the upcoming premiere of Pokémon the Movie: Secrets Of The Jungle. First announced in 2020 and set to debut on Netflix on October 8, Secrets Of The Jungle is the Pokémon franchise’s 23rd animated film, and it will depict Ash Ketchum and friends meeting a boy named Koko and his guardian Pokémon in the mysterious Forest Of Okoya.
Both Pokémon: Secrets Of The Jungle and its planned video game crossovers are being released to coincide with the Pokémon franchise's 25th anniversary. Throughout 2021, Nintendo has celebrated this milestone with a cavalcade of new Pokémon game announcements, such as Nintendo Switch remakes Pokémon Brillant Diamond and Shining Pearl and the open-world Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Additionally, Nintendo has collaborated with stars like Katy Perry and Post Malone on Pokémon 25: The Album, a collection of songs centered around the ever-popular monster collection series.
In a Tuesday press release, The Pokémon Company revealed the official plot synopsis for Pokémon the Movie: Secrets Of The Jungle and announced several planned video game tie-ins for the new film. While the main focus was the news that players can receive the movie’s Dada Zarude and Shiny Celebi in Pokémon Sword and Shield by signing up for Pokémon Trainer Club email list, the press release also mentions a planned crossover with Pokémon GO to celebrate Secrets Of The Jungle’s October release. More details are still forthcoming, as noted on the official Pokémon: Secrets Of The Jungle website.
Pokémon GO continues to be a successful commodity for both Nintendo and developer Niantic, even though the mobile game recently generated controversy over shortening (and subsequently permanently extending) the interaction distance required to reach PokéStops and Gyms in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, there are plenty of special Pokémon GO events planned for the next few months, with the next one being centered around Psychic-type Pokémon like Inkay and Malamar.
The exact details of Pokémon GO’s planned crossover with Pokémon: Secrets Of The Jungle are still unknown, but it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that it will mirror Pokémon Sword and Shield’s promotion by featuring the movie’s Dada Zarude and Shiny Celebi, possibly adding the former to the game's Pokédex and giving players another chance to nab a pink Celebi. More details are slated to be revealed as Pokémon: Secrets Of The Jungle nears its October 8 release date, so it will be shared soon how Pokémon GO could tie into Ash and company’s latest feature-length adventure.
Pokémon GO is available on iOS and Android.
Source: The Pokémon Company, Pokémon