Celebrate Pokémon Day with a new Alexa skill
Pokémon Day, the holiday that celebrates all things Pokémon, arrives on Feb. 27.
In honor of your favorite collectible friends and their special day, Pokémon Company International is releasing a Pikachu-themed app for Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and three new Snapchat lenses featuring Pokemon.
The holiday commemorates Feb. 27, 1996, the day the first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, launched in Japan.
On this date every year since, Pokemon Company International rewards fans with promotions and merchandise. In 2016, the two original games were re-released for Nintendo's 3DS. Last year's holiday featured a limited-time update to Niantic's Pokémon Go featuring Pikachu in a festive party hat. Fans could also purchase a Nintendo 3DS styled after the yellow character.
This is the first year, however, that Pokémon are venturing into the voice-assistant sphere. Pikachu Talk, an app that allows aspiring Pokémon trainers to chat with Pikachu, is now available for Alexa-enabled devices in all countries, and for Google Home in the U.S.
Once you've enabled the skill, you can ask Pikachu any question, tell him about your day, or vent about your annoying co-worker. Pikachu, of course, doesn't speak English, so his responses will range from "Pika" to "Pikaaaaaaaa." Pikachu won't provide the most stimulating conversation, but he's probably a better listener than your drunk roommate, and he certainly won't interrupt.
Amateur photographers can also also take advantage of three limited-edition Snapchat lenses featuring emoji and effects inspired by their Pokémon. The creatures themselves will also pop up on the screen. The first will feature Bulbasaur. Lenses inspired by Charmander and Squirtle will follow in the coming days. If you've always wished there were a way to show your Snapchat friends just how much you love Pokemon, now's your chance.
Oh, and if you're one of the seven people who still play Pokémon Go, keep an eye out for that Pikachu in a party hat. He's back in town, and if you catch him, you'll get triple the usual stardust (whatever that is).
Topics Amazon Alexa Comics Gaming Google Home Pokemon
Monica wrote for Mashable's Tech section with a focus on retail, internet of things, and the intersections of technology and social justice. She holds a degree in creative writing from Brown University, and has previously written for Dow Jones Media, the New York Post, Yahoo Finance, and others. In her free time, she can be found attempting to cook Asian food, buying board games, and looking for new hobbies.
