Nintendo announced a number of new details for Pokemon X and Y in this morning’s Direct broadcast, including two 3DS XL units for North America and Europe. Unlike the red and gold units coming to Japan, the red and blue 3DS XLs will launch on September 27, two weeks prior to the game’s arrival on October 12. They’ll be available for $200 and won’t come with the game bundled in. No word if bundles with the game included will launch later.
Also announced was Pokemon Bank, a 3DS cloud-based app that lets players store their pocket monsters online. The service, which players will have to stump an annual fee for, allows trainers to store 3,000 Pokemon, including those from future Pokemon games and from multiple copies of Pokemon games. It’s tied to a linked app, Poke Transporter, that can transfer Pokemon into the Bank from certain previous games, such as Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. Pokemon Bank is confirmed to arrive in North America and Europe later this year, and will come with a free trial period.
Rounding up the reveals is a wee touch of nostalgia: In addition to receiving one of X and Y starter Pokemon Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie at the beginning of the game, players also get one of Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, the starter critters from Game Boy entries Red and Blue. Each returning starter can Mega Evolve too, which is mega news, really.
Pokemon X and Y are due worldwide on October 12
