Pokémon titles to stay offline

Pokémon series director Junichi Masuda has said there will be no online title in the series, choosing instead to "emphasise real-world communication".

Speaking to What They Play, Masuda dismissed the idea of an MMO or online Pokémon title.

"At this point, we're not thinking of going in that direction," he said. "Trading is a core concept of Pokémon. So when you're trading, you meet with a friend and decide which one you want and which one they want."

"I would like to emphasize real-world communication. You don't see each other online."

Pokémon titles regularly top software charts worldwide upon release, and the next instalment in the series - Pokémon Platinum - is due for release in the UK on May 22.