The co-op features in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet open the door to a new style of play with functionality that extends beyond simple multiplayer. Co-op play has normally been a limited prospect in Pokémon games as the only multiplayer features typically involved trading and battling other trainers either locally or online. With the advent of Pokémon Generation 8, co-op extended to the newly added Max Raid Battles and Dynamax Adventures; but Generation 9 took the biggest leap forward with fully-realized co-op, which could set a new precedent for Pokémon going forward.

Now allowing trainers to fully experience being in the same game, Pokémon's Gen 9 allows four players to join the same adventure together. Pokémon's tradition of releasing two versions simultaneously brings with it version exclusive content and Pokémon, but until the introduction of co-op, trainers could only trade Pokémon Scarlet and Violet version exclusives. Now, there are other ways to obtain both versions.

Related: Pokémon Needs To Stop Making Two Versions Of Every Game

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Co-Op Merges Version Exclusive Content

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet playable character runs with back to camera twoards 3 waving NPCS

By introducing co-op mode, the game lets players circumvent Pokémon’s version exclusives in Scarlet and Violet as using the opposite version will allow both players to capture their respective version exclusive Pokémon. Instead of having to trade between versions, players can enjoy their own journeys together, capturing Pokémon they normally wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

How Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's New Co-Op Features Sets A New Precedent For The Series

Four Pokémon Scarlet and Violet co-op players sitting on their rideable Legendaries.

The co-op feature introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is only the latest addition to the Pokémon franchise that brings the age-old system of releasing different versions to a more modern standard. Pokémon titles have been known in the past to release a third version of the game, adding new areas and stories while mixing and matching some of the version exclusives to mix up the in-game encounters. Pokémon Sword and Shield’s DLC proved to be a better way of handling this system, allowing players to simply update their chosen title with the new content through download rather than forcing a whole new purchase, showing the franchise’s awareness of its aging conventions.

The ability for players to effectively merge the Pokémon encounters of both games into one through co-op play sets Pokémon Scarlet and Violet apart from previous titles in the franchise by providing new ways for players to share their journeys and experiences in the Pokémon World. This makes the two games feel like one full journey in ways that previous titles in the series have been unable to capture.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet use its dual versions to create thematically different adventures while maintaining the same body and general gameplay flow between both titles. While eschewing the version exclusive Gym Leaders of Sword and Shield, keeping the theme of the adventures different provides a further gameplay incentive for players to merge the two versions together while allowing trainers access to the Pokémon populating the opposite version. By effectively bringing both game versions together, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sets a new standard for the dual-release cycle of the series going forward.

More: Scarlet & Violet May Have Already Revealed The Next Pokémon Game SettingSource: Nintendo/YouTube