The mutated Pokérus has ravaged the Pokémon population. Many species have been wiped out, many look nothing like they did even 5 years ago. As a last ditch effort, scientists have created a digital world within the Pokémon storage system, and have begun semi-permanently digitizing all the remaining Pokémon until a time in the future when science can rid them of this disease. This new digitizing process isn't perfect. The Pokémon have been taking on new appearances and charactistics. For example, Pokémon now seem to control their evolution and can even devolve, generally staying in their base form unless they need to evolve. Incredibly, while Pokémon have always seemed to be able to comprehend human language to a limited degree, they are beginning to learn how to speak. There are rumors that the government is attempting to continue the 'New Trainer Initiative' by giving children turning 10, instead of a Pokémon, a modified Pokédex that allows them to care for a virtual pokemon. However, these new devices are crude. The world's economy is in bad shape. The countless pokemon in the trades have been replaced by low skilled human workers. Pokémon Centers, Gyms, and various shops and vendors have all been put out of business. Pokémon based travel and tourism, an industry many cities depended on, are basically nonexistent. The Pokémon League, once a proud establishment, once a beacon to unite us all, is no more.