>>57866260Back when online functionality didn't exist, yeah. Now PVP is the largest aspect of a generation's lifespan, because again, why waste time programming an easily exploited AI or a facility that has to fish for RNG win conditions when you can give the player a completely genuine challenge against a fellow player?
They know shitbags don't socialize IRL anymore with the internet being such a huge thing, so it makes more sense to emphasize player to player interaction with online components. PVP focus, raid battles, milestone events, being able to dick around with each other around the maps, making food together, etc.
And in Gen 10's case, since Champions will exist to cover the need for PVP focus, Gen 10 itself can downplay the need to fixate on ranked, and instead will put even bigger emphasis on player socialization through more varied multiplayer interactions, further expressing the paradigm shift of priorities in Pokemon's mainline games.
