The real optimism will be determined by whether or not GameFreak can drive people to be more portable with their Switches via a Pokemon main series title.
If they succeed, Pokemon games will get steadily better following the shakiness since Gen 6 onwards.
If they fail, it could be the end of Pokemon. Not literally, but either the games will change dramatically in tone or the franchise will flounder on the Switch until a more portable console finally comes out - then it'll be back to Gen 6 all over again.
I've thought about this a lot and this is the main issue I see with the Switch. Pokemon is built on being a shared, multiplayer experience that people in the real world can play together. So far, the Switch is still not occupying that portable space the 3DS/DS/GBA/GBC/GB had. If GameFreak can't make a success out of encouraging people to use their Switch like they did their 3DSs, the game will shift focus to being a story-driven children's console RPG - in other words, more cutscenes and more Yokai Watch vibes.
