Pokémon Fighter Coming To Wii U, ‘Pokkén Tournament’ Announced For Spring 2016
The arcade fighting game featuring Pokémon, Pokkén Tournament, recently launched in Japanese arcades. Fans wondering if and when the Tekken-based fighting game would arrive on the Wii U should wonder no more with an announcement from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company on Friday.
ThePokkén Tournament Wii U release announcement was made at the Pokémon World Championships taking place in Boston, Mass. The fighting game is currently slotted to launch worldwide sometime during spring 2016.
Speculation of a console release heated up Thursday with the discovery of a Pokkén Tournament trademark filing with Europe’s Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM). The filing also hints at the use of amiibo figures with the fighting game.
The use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is listed as one of the features of Pokkén Tournament. The Wii U has only used NFC for amiibo to date, which suggests a new wave of Pokémon-themed figures will launch with the game along with the ability to use some existing figures. Currently, Pikachu, Lucario, Charizard, Jiggleypuff all have amiibo figures, while Mewtwo is scheduled to be released later this year.
While sales of the Wii U have been dismal and Nintendo 3DS sales haven’t been able to match its predecessor, amiibo has been a bright spot for Nintendo with more than 10.5 million units sold.
The Wii U announcement trailer for Pokkén Tournament showed Lucario, Blaziken, Gardevoir, Machamp, Suicune, Charizard, Gengar, Weavile, and Pikachu of course. A Lucha Libre Pikachu was also on display with the appropriate leap off the ropes and slam into an opponent.
A handful of Pokémon characters can be called into assist during a Pokkén Tournament match. Emolga, Fennekin, Snivy, Frogadier, Eevee, Lapras, Whimsicott, and Jirachi can all be all be called to help.
“Pokkén Tournament combines the best elements of a traditional fighting game with an authentic Pokémon experience,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “Fans will be thrilled to see their favorite Pokémon battle in a whole new way.”
Pokkén Tournament was originally announced as an arcade title in August 2014. It is a co-development effort between Nintendo and Namco Bandai Games, the studio behind the Tekken franchise. Development is being overseen by Katsuhiro Harada, the Game Director and Chief Producer of the Tekken series.
“Whether you are a casual player, a regular player or a hardcore player, anyone who likes Pokémon can have fun,” Harada said at the time of the announcement.
[Images via The Official Pokémon Channel]
