Nintendo announced Yo-Kai Watch 2 will release September 30 and, like that other catch 'em all game, it'll have two different versions. Yo-Kai Watch 2 will feature over 100 new Yo-Kai, new areas to explore, and it'll come in two flavors: Bony Spirits, and Fleshy Souls. Each will have new rare Yo-Kai exclusive to its respective version. Hmm... This sounds awfully familiar.
Yo-Kai Watch 2 will again be developed by Level-5, the studio behind, among many others, Ni No Kuni, Dark Cloud, and Professor Layton.
"After being such a massive sensation in Japan, it's great to see the US start to embrace the mischievous and lovable Yo-kai," said Nintendo head os Sales and Marketing Scott Moffitt. "We're excited to continue bringing fun Yo-kai experiences stateside this year."
Nintendo also announced a new trading card game to go along with it. Or, I suppose a new trading card game to go along with the sequel, as there's already a TCG for Yo-Kai watch in japan, and apparently, its doing pretty well. Hasbro has also joined in, as they will be releasing new toys for the game, including the new "Model Zero" watch protagonist Nate wears in the second season of the animated show, which will be airing on Disney XD this summer.
Nintendo described the new watch in a press release:
"The watch includes Yo-Motion technology that brings Yo-kai characters to life in a new way. Fans can insert a Yo-Motion Yo-Kai Medal into the watch and see a projected animation of that character. Hasbro will also release a new series of collectible Yo-Motion Yo-Kai Medals, which are compatible with the new watch, as well as custom Yo-Kai Watch accessories, large plush toys, and electronic figures."
Yo-Kai Watch 2 releases September 30, just under two months before Pokemon Sun and Moon. That's a pretty good lead time to make sales, but I still think Sun and Moon will blow its away. It should also be noted Yo-Kai Watch originally came to North America on November 6, 2015, meaning its sequel will hit just under a year after the original.
Could this possibly lead to this becoming an annual thing, while Pokemon fans wait around 3 years for a new release (not including remakes like Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire)? Who know, maybe I'm just speculating too much. Still, Yo-Kai Watch has spawned an incredible amount of spin-offs since its release in 2013.