The Pokemon franchise is continuing the celebration of the New Year by adding in a free Pikachu that players can get in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The promotion is to celebrate the International Space Station stream that recently went live on New Year's Eve, with them showing off Pokemon in AI form to ring in 2021.
This isn't the first time that Pokemon has had a promotion that features the loveable mouse Pokemon that rose to fame with the start of the series. Back in the fall, there was a chance for players to get a Pikachu with a cap on it, with designs that were based on various versions of Ash Ketchum's from the anime series. These were released to celebrate the new DLC expansions that had recently come out for the game, The Crown Tundra and Isle of Armor.
For this event, however, Pokemon is celebrating the special space livestream that they held to ring in the new year with a new Pikachu that is given free to the player. According to Serebii, the Pokemon is available in both Sword and Shield and players are able to claim it until January 15th. In order to get the Pikachu, players need to make sure they have an internet connection, select the term "Mystery Gift" on the menu, then "Get Mystery Gift" and then "Get Via Internet." Soon, the Switch will connect to the Internet, and the KIBO Pikachu will appear. This Pikachu will come in at level 21 and carry a Comet Shard, something that can be sold at a high price to shops, and come equipped with the moves Thunderbolt, Swift, Wish, and Celebrate.
With the 25th anniversary of Pokemon coming out soon, this is one of many events that will most likely be taking place over the year. Many fans have been speculating that the reason there was a livestream in space was that there are possible Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes coming, a game that was heavily space and time themed. However, nothing has been confirmed.
Even so, that doesn't change the fact that 2021 will be a big year for Pokemon, and even if a remake didn't come out there will be plenty of events lined up for fans to enjoy.
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Pokemon Sword and Shield are available to play on Nintendo Switch, and the DLC expansions, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra, are available to purchase as well.
Source: Serebii