The Most Promising Pokémon Challenger Has Been Missing for Years

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Pokémon is incredibly popular worldwide and has long been the leading game in the monster-collecting genre. While The Pokémon Company and Game Freak have continually improved and innovated with games like Pokémon Legends: Z-A, some players are becoming frustrated with recurring issues in the series and are seeking alternatives. Recently, Palworld has gained a lot of attention, but I recall another game announced years ago that seemed like it could seriously challenge Pokémon’s dominance.

Despite looking fantastic, Pearl Abyss’ game DokeV seems to have disappeared. It was originally shown in 2019, with a gameplay trailer following in 2021, but we haven’t heard much about it since. Pearl Abyss, the Korean studio behind it, has been focused on supporting Black Desert Online and developing Crimson Desert. This likely explains the silence around DokeV, but I’m eagerly awaiting a game that could potentially surpass Pokémon in popularity.

DokeV Looks Wild and Like a Breath of Fresh Air

I was immediately hooked when I first saw the trailer for DokeV. It looked so unique and unpredictable that I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. What really impressed me was its potential to redefine the creature-collecting genre, which was starting to feel oversaturated. DokeV isn’t afraid to be chaotic, colorful, and full of personality. Its art style, lively animations, and modern, fantastical city setting give it the feel of a fun Saturday morning cartoon, rather than a typical RPG. While Pokemon Sword and Shield were about to come out, I was already excited about DokeV and thought it would be released relatively soon.

Long before Pokemon popularized the idea, Pearl Abyss combined collecting creatures with fast-paced, real-time battles. Their game also featured a focus on exploring the world and had a modern, stylish look inspired by pop culture and music. Players could skate through cities, glide through the air, and fight with unique creatures in exciting battles. The game prioritized creating a feeling of speed and unexpected moments, which is something many open-world games today have trouble capturing.

I felt a real sense of excitement with the game’s reveal, something I hadn’t felt much with recent Pokémon titles. The game has a playful vibe, focusing on exploration, action, and imagination. This energy really came through in the unique creature designs, which were both expressive and wonderfully strange, making them really stick in your mind. From the start, DokeV demonstrated a willingness to be different and forge its own path, instead of just following the Pokémon formula. It’s a bold, quirky game that doesn’t seem to worry about meeting typical fan expectations, and that’s incredibly refreshing.

DokeV’s Disappearance Hurts as a Pokemon Fan

Okay, so DokeV blew everyone away with its first trailer, and the hype just kept building when they showed actual gameplay. It really felt like the developers knew what they were doing. But then… nothing. After 2021, the game just vanished, and I, along with a ton of other fans, have been starving for any updates on this creature-collecting MMO. Pearl Abyss hasn’t been very open about what’s going on with DokeV, but honestly, a lot of my questions are now being answered by another game they’re working on: Crimson Desert.

Both Crimson Desert and DokeV were announced around the same time, and the developers at Pearly Abyss have since made significant changes to each game. Crimson Desert originally planned as a story leading up to Black Desert Online, is now a single-player game. Similarly, DokeV moved away from being a massively multiplayer online game to focus on open-world action and adventure, though it will still include some multiplayer features like player-versus-player combat. These major changes likely meant the development teams had to start over on certain parts of the games, which could explain why fans haven’t seen much new information after the initial trailers.

Currently, the most concrete information about DokeV is that Pearl Abyss doesn’t anticipate its release before 2027. They initially estimated it would launch around 18 months after Crimson Desert, but that timeframe was given before Crimson Desert’s official release date was set. So, that timing might not be accurate anymore. Regardless, it’s clear that interest in DokeV has waned, and its future likely depends on how well Crimson Desert performs.

Crimson Desert May Determine DokeV’s Fate

Both DokeV and Crimson Desert were initially announced around the same time in 2019, but their development hasn’t been straightforward. Recently, Pearl Abyss seems to have prioritized Crimson Desert, likely because single-player games are generally easier to create than those with multiplayer components. Plus, single-player games were becoming increasingly popular, with titles like Death Stranding, A Plague Tale: Innocence, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order demonstrating a strong player demand for compelling stories. This shift in the gaming landscape probably led Pearl Abyss to focus on Crimson Desert.

Since both games started over in development, how well Crimson Desert does will likely influence how Pearl Abyss approaches DokeV. A successful launch for Crimson Desert could mean more resources and a focus on single-player features for the creature-collecting game. But if Crimson Desert struggles, Pearl Abyss might rethink the multiplayer plans they originally had for DokeV. Ultimately, DokeV’s release depends on how Crimson Desert performs.

Pearl Abyss hasn’t given a firm release date for DokeV, only stating it won’t be available before 2027. This timeframe is subject to change, particularly depending on the development of Crimson Desert. While it’s disappointing to wait until 2027 after seeing the promising trailers, Pearl Abyss needs to take the time necessary if DokeV hopes to compete with Pokemon, especially considering the recent leaks and upcoming games in that franchise. If a longer wait results in a truly exceptional creature-collecting game, it will be worth it.

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2026-01-28 20:13