Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's 'Regional Fakes' Could Prove Controversial

gamerant.com:

Although Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fans have been keeping themselves busy with fan art, rumors, speculation, and leaks, the truth is the well is running dry. Game Freak has been very secretive so far, and many fans are hungry for more information. After all, it’s four months from release and little has been shown. In terms of new Pokemon, there are the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starters, three other Pokemon, and the mascot legendaries.

This has led to a lot of prevalent leaks, some of which are more reliable than others. In fact, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet leaks point toward a ton of forms, including ancient forms, future forms, convergent species, and regional fakes. Without any confirmation from Game Freak, it’s hard to say what is for sure or not, but regional fakes is a term coined by Khu—one of the most reliable leakers in the Pokemon community.

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While this term could mean many things, what it seemingly boils down to is pretty simple: it would seem that some Pokemon are getting new regional forms, like Hisuian forms in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but they’re not. They’re new Pokemon with new names, new types, and new Pokedex entries that look a lot like other Pokemon. And while how they are received remains to be seen, it seems their official reveal could come alongside some controversy.

For example, a few regional fakes have already appeared online. It would seem there is a regional fake of Diglett, which is blue, is water-type, and presumably exists in the water instead of on ground. There’s also a Jigglypuff regional fake, which looks exactly like Jigglypuff but seemingly with golden-yellow eyes and fangs. While it is easy to describe them