While it has produced several other titles throughout its history,Game Freakhas discussed its hopes for a future beyond developingPokemongames. The company has been around for over 30 years, and in that time,Game Freakhas made a name for itself primarily for developing the belovedPokemonRPG series that has been exclusive to Nintendo consoles ever since the release ofPokemon RedandBlueon the Game Boy.
Before Game Freak developed video games, it was a self-published video game magazine created by one Satoshi Tajiri. He was eventually joined by Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda in establishing Game Freak in 1989. The company’s first title was a puzzle game,Mendel Palace, followed by several other titles for various Nintendo and Sega systems beforePokemon RedandBlue. Game Freak has continued to developPokemongames since then, continuing the franchise into its 9th generation, and the resoundinglysuccessful sales ofPokemon ScarletandVioletcontinue the trend that the franchise has maintained since its inception.
RELATED:Pokemon Fan Makes Impressive Picture of Team Rocket
In an interview with VGC, Masao Taya, director of several of Game Freak’s original games, discussed the company’s Apple Arcade title,Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!,which originally released on the 3DS. Taya discussed the company’s difficulties with developing for mobile, which would require a free-to-play model, and how the Apple Arcade model allows it to monetize the game without adding microtransactions. He also discussed the challenge of developing new, original titles alongside working onPokemongames and lamented theupcoming closure of the Nintendo 3DS eShop, which will render Game Freak titles likeHarmoKnightand the originalPocket Card Jockeyunavailable.
Masao Taya acknowledged that eShop closures were inevitable and unavoidable while saying that he personally felt a sting. Perhaps the move to Apple Arcade will help preserveGame Freak titles likePocket Card Jockeyand make them available to new players for many years to come. Apple is known for its model of stable, iterative improvements to hardware in contrast to Nintendo’s history of releasing new systems that completely diverge from the established norm. The platform’s stability is certainly appealing to companies likeGame Freak,as well as gamers, who are often frustrated when older games are either unavailable or incompatible with newer systems.
MORE:Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Tera Raid Greninja is Unlikely to Have Battle Bond
