Japanese Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players have discovered an Easter egg they believe references the Pokemon Sword and Shield chronology. It could also be a direct homage to the character of Sonia, who played a key role in early Nintendo Switch games. Game Freak rarely acknowledges the chronology of events in the Pokemon series, preferring instead the ambiguity that allows for a more malleable timeline. However, the meaning of this Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Easter egg is pretty straightforward.
In Pokemon Sword and Shield, the player visits a location called Stow-on-Side. It’s a mountain city built around a strange old mural covered in colorful floral paintings. During an encounter with Bede, one of the player’s opponents, the mural crumbles. Behind the mural is a statue of two wolves holding a sword and a shield, with two kings behind them. Sonia believes the statue reveals a secret history of the Galar region that someone is trying to prevent others from discovering.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are understandably different from Pokemon Sword and Shield, taking place in different regions and possibly at different times. However, Easter eggs discovered by Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players seem to establish a subtle connection between the two games. A book discovered by Naranja Academy provides first-hand accounts of the fragmentation of the mural and the discovery of the statue behind it.
The Pokemon Scarlet and Violet book features the town of Stow-on-Side, an attack from Copperajah, sword- and shield-wielding Pokemon statues, and the mystery of the legendary heroes of the Galar region. In other words, it’s clearly a reference to Pokemon Sword and Shield. As a result, while it’s not explicitly stated, some fans believe the book was written by Sonia herself. Sonia and the player aren’t the only two witnesses to the mural’s collapse, but with Sonia becoming the Pokmon professor in the Galar region, it’s fair to assume she’ll be documenting the in-game events.
This Easter egg seems to confirm that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet follow Pokemon Sword and Shield in chronological order. This may be something players have already assumed, but Game Freak has not officially confirmed it. This could be the first direct evidence that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet belong in the timeline of the video game franchise.
As mentioned, Game Freak rarely references past events in new Pokemon games. That makes this Easter egg hunt even more special. Not only does it hint at the Pokemon chronology, but it also seems to refer to a key Pokemon Sword and Shield character–even if she isn’t named. This might leave Pokemon fans wondering what else they missed during a Pokemon Scarlet or Violet playthrough.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are now available on Switch.