'Pokemon Sun And Moon' Release Date, News & Update: Pikachu Gets a New Name

According to recent reports, Nintendo received backlash from Hong Kong gamers due to company's attempt to give the title an integrated Chinese title and inadvertently chanhing the naming of Pikachu. As many gamers know, the character's name, Pikachu, has become synonymous with the game over the years and the unexpected change in "Pokémon Sun, Moon" games has left the fans visibly upset.

The fans are feeling particularly outraged as Pikachu in "Pokemon Sun, Moon" games will now reflect as Pikaqiu, due to Mandarin translation. However, for the fans in Hong Kong, the name distorts further for the name reads as Pei-kaa-jau in Cantonese. There have been regional translations in the past leading to the name, Pikachu, being read out as, Bei-kaa-chyu. However, this pronunciation is still closer to what "Pokemon Sun, Moon" games will now use.

The report highlights that not only fans in Hong Kong but also ones in Greater China are unhappy with the unified Chinese language to be offered in "Pokémon Sun, Moon" games as a whole. Many Chinese fans treat the use of unified Chinese in the upcoming game as a disregard to their association with the game series over the years. Fans believe that "Pokémon Sun and Moon" games are a reflection of a simplified version of their diverse culture, with Pikachu being an image of it.

As per recent news, Hong Kong fans have protested the change publically for changing Pikachu in "Pokémon Sun and Moon" game title. The publication also adds that if the fans succeed in bringing the Cantonese version of Pikachu as they know, it will be a triump for the language as a whole. "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon" game titles are both scheduled for a Nov. 18 release by Nintendo.