Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Celebrate 20th Anniversary Today
September 28, 2006 marked the Japanese release of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS, and today the dual RPG celebrates its 20th anniversary. Published by The Pokemon Company, the pair was the first entry in the Pokemon series to arrive on the dual-screen handheld. The starter Pokemon offered to players were Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup, while Dialga and Palkia appeared on the two game covers. According to an official Pokemon information update, the titles — named after diamond’s ultimate hardness and pearl’s perfect circle — carried the development staff’s strong ambition to create the ultimate Pokemon game.
The adventure was set in the Sinnoh region, described as a land of abundant natural beauty. The protagonist departs from Twinleaf Town and eventually confronts the villainous organization Team Galactic. Professor Rowan, a Pokemon professor distinguished by his impressive beard, also appears in the story. More than 100 new Pokemon were discovered in the Sinnoh region. Some creatures previously believed incapable of evolving received new evolutions, and certain species featured different appearances depending on gender, which made comparing them in the Pokedex more interesting. A new version, Pokemon Platinum, followed on September 13, 2008.
Moving the platform to the Nintendo DS brought major changes through the touch screen. During battles, players could input commands immediately by tapping the screen, creating a notably speedy feel. Various Poketch applications could also be used by touch, including a friendship checker, Poke Radar counter, berry checker, and step counter. The games supported wireless and Wi-Fi communication for the first time, removing the need for a link cable and allowing trades and battles with distant trainers over the internet. The Global Trade Station, or GTS, was especially notable, automatically completing trades for deposited Pokemon.
The Nintendo DS’s dual-slot function allowed players to bring Pokemon caught in Game Boy Advance titles into Sinnoh, letting them keep adventuring with longtime partners on new hardware. A remake, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, launched on November 19, 2021. Looking ahead, the next mainline entry is planned for 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, titled Pokemon Winds and Waves, set in an open world of wind-swept green islands and sparkling seas. Two decades on, the arrival of wireless trading remains one of the franchise’s most defining milestones.
