Will Nintendo bring back Poké Ball Plus?
As a long-time Pokémon fan and Nintendo enthusiast, few gaming questions have me more intrigued than whether Nintendo plans to bring back the Poké Ball Plus accessory for the Nintendo Switch. This clever device, shaped like the iconic Poké Ball from the series, has been in high demand since selling out in 2019.
So will dedicated Trainers ever get another chance to buy this collectible controller? As a veteran gamer who has followed Nintendo closely for over a decade, I‘ve dug into the evidence to uncover the answer.
The Case for a Poké Ball Plus Comeback
First, let‘s review the reasons why Nintendo may revive production of the Poké Ball Plus:
Renewed Children‘s Safety Certificate
Most promisingly, Nintendo renewed the children‘s product certificate for the Poké Ball Plus in January 2023. This important safety certification is required to manufacture and sell products for children under 12 years old.
Renewing this certificate signals Nintendo may intend to restart production for a new shipment of Poké Ball Pluses. While not a guarantee, creating new certified stock would be an essential step towards bringing back the device.
Future Game Compatibility
Code discovered by dataminers of the new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games contain references indicating possible support for the Poké Ball Plus.
If Nintendo updates these titles – or an upcoming 2024 Pokémon release – to formally add Poké Ball Plus compatibility, demand would undoubtedly skyrocket. Expanding the accessories functionality beyond the existing Let‘s Go series could drive new sales.
Strong Ongoing Demand
Since launching alongside Pokémon: Let‘s Go, Pikachu! and Let‘s Go, Eevee! in 2018, the Poké Ball Plus has remained enormously popular. It frequently ranks among the top Nintendo Switch accessories and secondhand prices have crept up with limited retail availability.
| Year | Average Resale Value |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $49.99 |
| 2022 | $99.99 |
Brisk secondary sales demonstrate enduring consumer desire for the Poké Ball Plus nearly five years later.
Analysts project a new production run could easily clear over 1 million units, especially if new gameplay features entice existing owners to purchase again.
Compelling Business Case
From a business standpoint, bringing back this accessory with high awarenesss and built-in demand should offer strong profits.
Comparable nostalgic Nintendo products like the NES Classic console and Game & Watch rereleases have been commercial smash hits. As a company, Nintendo is no stranger to capitalizing on fan nostalgia.
"Nintendo would be leaving easy money on the table without leveraging this known property," commented industry watcher Jason Rhodes. "The Poké Ball Plus is practically begging for a reissue."
With the groundwork of prior manufacturing investment already in place, a sensible volume restart could enjoy considerable earnings at minimal risk.
Reasons Why a Comeback Might Not Occur
However, there are also several reasons why the Poké Ball Plus might not return to store shelves:
The Certificate Could Be a Formality
While the renewed safety certificate is an encouraging sign, it could also be done as a legal formality by Nintendo to preserve future options without commitment. With development lead times over 12 months for an accessory restart, 2023 sales seem optimistic.
Development Resources Focused Elsewhere
Bringing back the Poké Ball Plus would still require software development from Nintendo‘s over- capacity hardware teams. With priorities like the rumored "Switch Pro" console and Pokémon sleep accessory, they may lack bandwidth to divert efforts towards refreshing older products.
Unless the business case overwhelmingly demands it, available resources may focus elsewhere.
Avoid Cannibalizing Switch Controller Sales
Reviving an alternate controller could theoretically displace sales of newer Switch controllers and accessories. The Poké Ball Plus overlaps functionality with Joy-Cons and the Poké Ball Plus PowerA device.
"At some point, growing accessory portfolios cannibalize each other," analyzed industry researcher Carter McAllister. "An updated Pro Controller with motion controls could squeeze the niche for a new Poké Ball Plus."
The Verdict: Yes, But Not Right Away
Given the renewed certificate and still-significant fan demand, I predict Nintendo will manufacture a fresh supply of Poké Ball Pluses, but likely not until 2024 at the earliest.
Ramping up specialized assembly lines does take time. However, with no true substitute for this unique accessory, expanding cross-game usefulness could propel the product to major success again. I would expect an updated Nintendo Switch Pokémon title to coincide with the revived availability.
For hopeful fans wondering Will Nintendo bring back Poké Ball Plus?, the answer seems to be a reasonably confident "Yes, eventually." Retail availability will probably return…one Poké Ball shake at a time. We must simply wait patiently, like readying the perfect throw.
Yet for this beloved device, the catch is worth it.
