Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s second trailer revealed new Pokemon, places, and people – but more notably hints at a potential gym theme. What if Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s gyms were taken on a Formula One theme? There’s a chance it could be MotoGP instead, but with the heavy vehicle theme we see between New Legendary Pokemon and in other elements, it looks like one topic or the other.
Game Freak isn’t shy about leaving hints about upcoming announcements in its trailer. The trailer that first featured four Nintendo Switches on a single table, for example, now serves as a nod to the four-player co-op game. Here’s our breakdown of some of the screenshots from both the first and second trailers that lead us to believe Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is one of Spain’s most popular motorsports. And, come on, the legendary Pokemon actually have wheels protruding from their chests.
Legendary Pokemon Design
At first glance, only Miraidon, the Legendary box of Pokemon Scarlet, seems to be related to technology. In the second trailer, we can clearly see Miraidon’s jet engine legs in action and its digitized eyes. Its spout, which can be scaled, actually resembles carbon fiber on closer inspection. Sure, jets are mostly made of carbon fiber, but so are Formula 1 cars, due to their outstanding strength, durability, heat resistance and amazing light weight. Based on Motorsport.comUsing carbon fiber for F1 cars was a new development in 1981 with the introduction of the McLaren MP4 / 1. Previously, F1 cars were made from pretty much the same materials as normal cars. While it’s clear that the F1 cars in our world have wheels like normal cars, the Miraidon here has grown beyond demand for them.
However, not Koraidon. Scarlet Legend’s box looks completely natural, except for the tire protruding from the chest. While inactive in its current state, it’s not uncommon for Pokemon to take on different forms, even very wild ones. Perhaps Koraidon and Miraidon will gain new forms that will make them … drivable. Terrible? For further speculation, we believe that the Koraidon could transform into an underwater “vehicle” due to its webbed hands and feet, and the Miraidon into an airborne “vehicle”. They can also just be design motifs. Regardless if they are vehicle related motifs.
A new kind of Pokemon hub
These structures seem to replace traditional Pokemon Centers, but they have a completely outdoor design, with easy access to outdoor seating areas.
They even appear with this design inside towns (shown below), but when viewed outdoors, they always have sidewalks all around. They are like “gas stations” and can be a “stop-off” for weary trainers and their Pokemon.
The attendants weren’t too obvious, but each appeared to have at least two individuals, one of whom appeared to be Nurse Joy with a cap over her pink hair. There are three separate banners below the counter – blue, red and green. Blue could represent items in a Poke Mart, red for a Pokemon Center, and green could be miscellaneous items. Above the service counter is a screen surrounded by advertisements for everything from travel, to shoes, and … even tires.
An area with… Tire ads?
It’s a little hard to spot, but behind our friend, Nemona, is an ad on the far side of one of the Pokemon Center stops. Zoom in on the same ad behind her Pawmi for a wider view. It appears to be an advertisement for a specific brand or type of tire, with a black and gold tread design behind the main text.
Maybe the Qwilfish mascot refers to the grip of the tires on difficult terrain.
Gym space
If Game Freak follows a similar framework to Pokemon Sword and Shield, chances are this proposed F1 theme will be featured most prominently in Scarlet and Violet’s gyms. In this photograph of a vast castle town, the modern structure encircling the hills stands out not only for its design but also for its location. F1 racing requires a ton of space. What better place to have an extreme gym than in the hills right next to town? The screenshot perfectly hides what lies beyond the top of the building. The building itself looks like it might be small for a gym, but the size could make sense if the structure we see has grandstands overlooking the track.
Even if Scarlet and Violet gyms are F1-only in the theme without real racing, we still have one big question: why does this area require so much space for battles? Pokemon? Sword and Shield’s Gigantamax took advantage of the height of a football stadium, but which mechanic will take advantage of F1’s implied space and speed? There is a possibility that this theme could be used purely for aesthetics.
Other suggestions
The cross flag is an iconic symbol for the race. These are shown in the second trailer alongside what appear to be other landmarks, possibly marking a gym location or other points of interest.
The second trailer also includes a reveal of the “full” logo design for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Both text logos feature prominent outlines with profiles of their respective Legendary Pokémon and four mystery symbols. Interestingly, these logos look like ornate license plates. Note that the details of the plate (the precious wheels on the top right and left and even the pattern of the border) also mimic the design of the Legendary Pokemon. While F1 cars don’t have license plates, this keeps the car theme intact.
This topic may not be quite the standout, but why are Pokemon Centers suddenly looking like gas stations? Be sure to let us know your Pokemon Scarlet and Violet theory below. For information on confirmed Pokemon, visit our confirmation section List of Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet and theirs Version differences, including professors’ exclusive editions.
Casey DeFreitas is an editor on the concierge team at IGN. Catch her on Twitter @ShinyCaseyD.
Miranda Sanchez is the executive editor of guidelines at IGN. She is a big fan of stationery and fountain pens. Sometimes you can find her on Twitter.
