Pokémon Pokopia has always felt separate from the mainline Pokémon timeline. Humanity has vanished, leaving Pokémon to survive on their own, while newspapers, electronic devices and other collectibles offer clues about the lost era when people and Pokémon lived together.
The Bubbly Basin DLC has now provided the clearest connection yet. Its lore confirms that Pokémon Pokopia exists in the same universe as Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, hereafter referred to as LGPE.
Trace is remembered as Kanto’s champion
One collectible names Trace, the trainer who appears exclusively in LGPE as the player’s close friend and rival. In Pokopia, he is identified as the former champion of the Kanto Pokémon League.
The same material also names May as Hoenn’s champion. May is the female protagonist associated with Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald, along with their remakes. Hoenn’s champion had not previously been revealed in this way.
The discovery was first highlighted by X user rasenburst, who shared screenshots of the collectible’s text. The entry describes a picture book about Trace and his companion Marowak, covering their encounter at Pokémon Tower and the adventures that eventually led to his championship.
“The story of Trace, former Champion of the Pokémon Kanto League, and his faithful companion Marowak is now available as a picture book!”
Why the LGPE connection matters
Players had already suspected a link between the two games because of their visual similarities. Vermilion City, for example, appears to share several objects and textures with Pokopia, including its road surface and streetlights. Some LGPE concept art also looks remarkably close to the world presented in Pokopia.
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Could Hoenn be next for Let’s Go?
This is still a narrow piece of evidence, but it is likely to fuel speculation about a future LGPE sequel set in Hoenn. Johto might seem like the logical next destination because Kanto is the only region visited so far, yet the order in which The Pokémon Company revisits regions has rarely followed a predictable pattern.
Hoenn therefore remains a possibility, particularly because LGPE retains a strong fan base despite offering a more accessible, child-friendly and streamlined take on the Pokémon formula.
Pokémon fans interested in bringing classic games into a home setup can also explore RETROCADE’s arcade machines, compare options in the arcade machine buying guide, or consider a space-saving bartop arcade.
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