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Pokémon Scarlet, Violet DLC Part 1 Releasing in September

by Alex Fuller · August 8, 2023

The Pokémon Company held a new Pokémon Presents presentation, during which it revealed a release date and new details for the first part of the DLC expansion for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask will release for Nintendo Switch on September 13, 2023.

The Teal Mask will take players to the land of Kitakami as they join an outdoors study program run in partnership with Blueberry Academy. Players are supervised by Blueberry Academy teacher Briar as they journey across its abundantly natural areas, whose people live at the base of a mountain. It is introduce both new Pokémon and add additional Pokémon from previous games that do not yet appear in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Players will also meet two siblings that study at Blueberry Academy: Carmine and Kieran. The DLC’s story will see players learning about a folktale passed down in Kitakami. It centres around three hero Pokémon — Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti — who once saved the land from an evil ogre, and the Festival of Masks is held each year to celebrate them. Players will also meet a travelling photographer called Perrin, who is searching for a particular Pokémon. Players can assist Perrin by taking photos themselves, and also participate in other mini-games around the festival, earning mochi that can used to upgrade Pokémon stats.

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Dusk is planned to release this winter. It sees players visiting Blueberry Academy as an exchange student. A newly-built school, it lies mostly underwater and has a giant terrarium with savanna, coastal, canyon, and polar biomes. The Blueberry Academy has its own BB League ranking system for Pokémon trainers, with its own Elite Four. To challenge the Elite Four, players will first need to complete a set of trials. Players will also be able to join the League Club and redecorate its clubroom, as well as invite other trainers to act as their special instructors.

In addition, a special in-event is now ongoing in both Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that adds both Legendary Pokémon Mew and Mewtwo to the game. The event runs until September 18, 2023, and lets players add Mew by inputting the password “GETY0URMEW” to the Mystery Gift Menu. Meanwhile, a special Tera Raid Battle event will be available from September 1-18, 2023, where players can challenge and catch a Mewtwo that holds the Mightiest Mark.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the latest generation of Pokémon titles and released worldwide for Nintendo Switch on November 18, 2022. The games take place in the new Paldea region with players controlling students sent out on a grand treasure hunt. Those looking to read more about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet can read Luis Mauricio’s review of Pokémon Violet.

In other related announcements, The Pokémon Company released a new trailer and screenshots for Detective Pikachu Returns. A sequel to Nintendo 3DS adventure title Detective Pikachu, the game sees Tim Goodman and his detective partner Pikachu investigating a new series of incidents in Ryme City, where humans and Pokémon live side-by-side. Detective Pikachu Returns will release for Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service is receiving two more Pokémon titles. Game Boy Color title Pokémon Trading Card Game is available now for all Nintendo Switch Online members, while Nintendo 64 title Pokémon Stadium 2 is available for those with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.

Other announcements include a couple of Pokémon animations. Pokémon: Paldean Wilds is a new animated web series set in the region of Paldea, as seen in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Paldean Wilds follows three students — Ohara, Aliquis, and Hohma — on their Pokémon journey and will be available to watch on the Pokémon YouTube channel soon. The other animation is Pokémon: Path to the Peak, which is themed around competitive Pokémon Trading Card Game play. It will premiere at a special screening on August 11, 2023, at the 2023 Pokémon World Championships, with its first episode available to watch on YouTube shortly after.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Trailer and Screenshots