A key part of what makes the Pokémon series so popular is the choice players get to make at the beginning of each new game: the starter Pokémon. While the very first three starters are the most well-known, every group introduced since then has its own strengths and weaknesses that make it special.
Many fans consider the fourth generation of Pokémon to be a peak for the series, and all three starter Pokémon were well-received. While Chimchar and Turtwig are both good choices, Piplup, the cute penguin, is particularly memorable – at least, that’s my opinion!
Recent discoveries suggest this creature’s evolution may have taken a completely different path, and many fans are now wondering about the possibilities.
Someone on Twitter, using the handle Centro LEAKS, recently posted images from leaks related to the development of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. These images revealed a lot about how the games were made, and included early design sketches for Piplup’s entire evolution line – like the impressive final evolved form you see pictured.
Fans loved what they saw, although they were disappointed the design wasn’t actually made.
“They should bring this back as a regional variant, Ice/Steel,” one response read.
Someone else suggested bringing back some older design ideas – things like different versions found in specific areas, or powerful forms similar to Mega Evolutions – and incorporating them into the games.
One person suggested these designs should be officially recognized, perhaps as alternate forms, and even thought a Mega Evolution for Empoleon based on the design would be fantastic.
A lot of people are hoping they’ll really revamp some Pokémon designs with this new game. I keep seeing others point out things that always bothered them too – like why Empoleon is Water/Steel instead of Water/Ice? Honestly, it’s a penguin! It makes way more sense for it to be Ice-type, and I’ve been wondering that since I was a kid.
There’s been a lot of talk about older Pokémon games recently, likely because the franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary and revisiting its past. Fortunately, the future looks bright too! The next generation of Pokémon games, currently titled Pokémon Winds and Waves, is expected to release around late 2027.
2026-07-23 16:01