What if the reason that Red is seemingly the only protag (and his face is shaded out) is that this is actually the precursor to an announcement of Pokemon Generations the game for the Nintendo NX...

>Start in Pallet Town
>Default outfit is of Red/Leaf
>Starter Pokemon is Pikachu
>Each set of three starters can be received in each region somehow
>Customizable outfits
>Story continues throughout Gen I-VI
>Each new Gen of Pokemon on handleheld gets patched into the NX version
>Sun/Moon added in 2017/2018