Nintendo kicks off 2016 for Pokémon fans with three new Nintendo 2DS bundles, Pokkén Tournament and more!

January 12th, 2016 – Pokémon fans have a lot to be excited about in the early months of 2016! Nintendo of Europe today announced three new Pokémon-themed Nintendo 2DS Special Edition hardware bundles will launch across Europe on February 27th, whilst the Wii U 3D versus fighting game Pokkén Tournament has been slated for a European debut this Spring. In addition two new sets of Pokémon-themed cover plates for New Nintendo 3DS also arrive in February, whilst a packaged version of Pokémon Rumble World* and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon are launching on January 22nd and February 19th respectively for Nintendo 3DS family systems.

In a fitting tribute to where it all began, the Nintendo 2DS Special Edition hardware bundles include a Nintendo 2DS system in transparent red, blue or yellow and a pre-installed Virtual Console version of Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version or Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, corresponding to the Nintendo 2DS system’s colour. Sure to trigger warm feelings of nostalgia, these Nintendo 2DS Special Edition hardware bundles also feature classic packaging reminiscent of the original Game Boy games, a sheet of 15 stickers that can be used to customise the Nintendo 2DS system, and a download code for a HOME Menu theme.

Meanwhile, fans who own a New Nintendo 3DS system can look forward to two new sets of cover plates. A Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon set featuring artwork from the game on February 19th and another set decked out in artwork of classic Pokémon. The Nintendo 2DS Special Edition hardware bundles and Pokémon themed cover plates, along with the Virtual Console releases in Nintendo eShop, will all be available from February 27th, the same day that the original games first released in Japan in 1996.

Fans eager to control and unleash the power of their Pokémon in real-time will be able to do just that this Spring, when 3D versus fighting game Pokkén Tournament launches for Wii U. With a cast of playable Pokémon including fan favourites such as Lucario and Blaziken, intuitive controls and an array of spectacular Pokémon special moves, Pokkén Tournament brings the rush of Pokémon battling into an entirely new genre of game.

Also arriving early this year is a packaged version of Pokémon Rumble World*, set to launch across Europe on January 22nd for Nintendo 3DS family systems. Originally released as a downloadable game on Nintendo eShop in April 2015, this packaged version will provide the full Pokémon Rumble World experience, alongside a number of features reconfigured especially for this packaged version of the game. On February 19th, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon for Nintendo 3DS family systems will launch. This definitive Pokémon Mystery Dungeon adventure features 720 species of Pokémon, random dungeons filled with near-infinite challenges, and the chance to team up and battle alongside some of the series’ most iconic Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Until March 17th, those who purchase the game on Nintendo eShop will receive a download code for a free theme for their Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu featuring Charizard, Pikachu, Bulbasaur and many more. This theme is also available for those who pre-order the retail version.

^{*Pokémon Rumble World is available as a packaged or digital version, or as a free-to-start version which offers in-game purchases.}

^{Please note: 11MB (90 blocks) or more of free memory space is required in order to store this software on your console.}

Updated version of Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version or Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition

Please note: for owners of Nintendo 2DS systems that come with Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version or Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition pre-installed, an updated version of the game is currently being distributed on Nintendo eShop.

Please update the software by launching Nintendo eShop whilst connected to the internet, then opening the Menu, tapping ‘Settings / Other’, and selecting ‘Available Updates’.

Notice regarding Pokémon Bank and the Nintendo 2DS Special Edition hardware bundles with pre-installed Pokémon Virtual Console titles

A small subset of Pokémon fans will want to take note of some important instructions from Nintendo. These instructions involve anyone who:

Has a Pokémon Bank account through an existing Nintendo system;

AND

Purchases a Nintendo 2DS Special Edition hardware bundle with pre-installed Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version or Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition games;

AND

Wants to transfer Pokémon from those games to their Pokémon Bank account.

People who fit into that category must remember to first perform a system transfer from their existing system to the Nintendo 2DS Special Edition system before starting the game or registering a new Nintendo Network ID. A full explanation on how to perform the transfer can be found in our System Transfer section.

For further details:

Nintendo of Europe on Twitter https://twitter.com/nintendoeurope

Nintendo UK on Twitter https://twitter.com/nintendouk

Wii U on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WiiU

Nintendo UK on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/NintendoUK

Nintendo UK on Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/nintendouk

Nintendo of Europe on Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/team/nintendo

Nintendo of Europe on Instagram https://instagram.com/nintendoeurope

Nintendo UK on Instagram https://instagram.com/nintendouk/