Fans are talking about Pokemon Legends: Celebi, but what is it?

The concept of Pokemon Legends: Celebi has captured the imagination of Pokemon fans, but is there anything to it?

Pokemon Legends: Arceus has entranced Pokemon fans around the globe. Its unique setting in an ancient Sinnoh region and novel gameplay has been well received among fans and critics alike. Pokemon fans are hoping this isn’t a one-off affair in the way some games have been, such as Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu. There’s a strong chance that the gameplay changes made in Pokemon Legends: Arceus become the foundation for the Pokemon series going forward.

Fans have gravitated towards the idea of Pokemon Legends: Celebi as a follow-up to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. But does the game actually exist, and what lies ahead for Pokemon Legends? Here’s what’s known about Pokemon Legends and whether a Celebi-based follow-up is in the works.

Is Pokemon Legends: Celebi real?

Pokemon Legends: Celebi does not yet appear to be real, as Nintendo has made no mention of any sort of follow-up to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Though this doesn’t meant there won’t be a new game in the style of Arceus.

Pokemon fans have long been hopeful for a return to the Johto region. Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal are widely regarded as the best games of the entire Pokemon franchise, and later remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver are likely the most critically successful Pokemon releases according to Metacritic. Before the reveals of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus, fans were fantasizing about another potential remake or remaster. 

Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee were functionally reimaginings of Pokemon Yellow. Fans were hoping that there would be a sequel focused on the Johto region, but those hopes were put on hold after the reveals of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus.

Unfortunately, even though all those games are out, something like Pokemon Legends: Celebi could still be far away. 

According to leaks, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set to receive downloadable content. This will be followed by the start of Pokemon’s ninth generation, which will likely be followed by DLC for those ninth-generation games. What lies beyond that is unknown, but this likely occupies Nintendo and Game Freak into 2023 and perhaps beyond.

Though remakes of Pokemon Black and White are possible, it’s also possible that Game Freak could stop remaking classic games after Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The gen-four remakes were critically panned and Black and White aren’t fancifully remembered by fans in the way prior generations are.

Ultimately, anything remains possible. There could be a Pokemon Legends follow-up, and there could be another Gold and Silver remake. It’s just unlikely that these two things will come come together in a way that results in something like Pokemon Legends: Celebi.