Detective Pikachu Release Date For 3DS Announced Alongside New, Huge Amiibo

The Detective Pikachu 3DS game launched in Japan last year, but until now there was no indication the game would come to the West. Now, however, The Pokemon Company has announced that the game will come to both Europe and America on March 23, 2018.

In addition, the company has unveiled a new trailer, which you can watch above, as well as a Detective Pikachu Amiibo. The Amiibo is much larger than the standard sized figures, and when used with the game it will "unlock short videos that may contain helpful hints for your investigation." The Amiibo will cost $30 (with international pricing yet to be revealed), launching on the same day as the game. Finally, a Pikachu-themed New 2DS XL will come to the West on January 26, priced at $160 / £140.

The game sees you play as a human detective named Tim Goodman alongside his Pokemon partner, Pikachu. You'll have to "talk to witnesses, hunt for clues, and uncover the secrets of Ryme City." The title is notable since Pikachu can speak English, and he's apparently both "gruff" and "coffee-drinking."

In addition to the game, there's also a live-action Detective Pikachu film on the way, starring Ryan Reynolds. The film--which also stars Big Little Lies actress Kathryn Newton and The Get Down actor Justice Smith--is coming on May 10, 2019. It is, to some extent, based on the game, and it's being written by Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls).

Neither the game nor the film are the first time Pikachu has spoken English. Last year, Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You had Pikachu speak properly for the first time--though we didn't think it sounded right. Let's hope Detective Pikachu fares better when it launches for 3DS in March.