Regional Variants/Formes

[Squirrel]

As I'm sure we've all heard by now, many Kanto Pokémon will be getting new regional variants in the new Sun and Moon games. As GO is comprised entirely of Kanto Pokémon right now and The Pokémon Company will have a vested interest in promoting the new games to the new players picking up GO to begin their Pokémon experience, it is very possible that we may be seeing these formes in GO any time soon after the release of Sun and Moon, or otherwise far into the future when more generations have been released. This also applies to Pokémon like Shellos/Gastrodon and the newly revealed Oricorio whom has four different type and design variants based on which of the four Alolan islands it originated from.

How do you think regional formes will work within Pokémon GO? Do you think you'll have to travel to a snowy mountain in order to capture an Ice Sandshrew, or will they spawn as normal Pokémon? Perhaps different continents will capture different variants as with the regional exclusive Pokémon already in the game? Do you think they'll even be included at all, and if so when do you expect to see them? Discuss your thoughts!

 

[Phoenixstarz]

I expect they will go released in go about the time sun and moon get released to help promote the new games. Not sure how they will do though either go for them being really rare so everyone talks about wanting them or make them really common so everyone has one and wants to know more.

 

[Kenchiin]

The likelihood they will be using Pokemon GO to promote new Pokemon forms is high, especially if we consider most variations we've seen by now come from Kanto.

I NEED MY CRYSTAL ONIX.

 

[Squirrel]

I do personally expect these to be released soon as well but I'm not sure how it'd happen. I'm mostly thinking there'd be some kind of regional variation for who finds what (colder climates find Ice Sandshrew etc) but that seems like a strange way to build hype for Sun and Moon given half the world wouldn't really ever see these new variants. I wonder could it be a case of GO starting to interact with things like your phone's temperature reading and if it's below X temperature you'll have a chance to find the new variants? I'm not sure how it'll work but I'm very much looking forward to it if it does!