A new update for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl has been released, introducing the Global Wonder Station, meaning fans can finally trade with other players in the game. This in-game location, which allows players to trade Pokémon, was not available at launch, leading several fans to wonder when Pokémon BDSP would finally add Wonder Trading.
Trading Pokémon has been a staple in the long-running gaming franchise since its inception in the mid-90s. The process of trading Pokémon has gone through several iterations, however, with Pokémon Red and Green players needing to connect their Game Boy devices together via a cable to engage in trading. As technology improved and evolved, players were soon able to trade Pokémon with their friends over the internet. It wasn't until Wonder Trading was introduced in Pokémon X and Y that players could reliably and easily trade Pokémon with other random players, however. This process opens up the pool of players available to trade with, potentially making it easier to obtain rare Pokémon like Arceus, which was recently added to Pokémon BDSP.
Months after the initial release of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Global Wonder Station has finally opened thanks to a game update, letting players trade pocket monsters online. VGC reports that March 15's 1.3.0 update added this long-awaited feature, as players are no longer barred by an NPC when attempting to enter the building. It's important to note that this will not be replacing the Global Union Room, which exists to allow players to wirelessly trade Pokémon by way of link codes. Pokémon BDSP players must have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to take advantage of the Global Wonder Station's trading features.
This update could wind up bringing a lot of players back to Pokémon BDSP. It's likely that plenty of fans have already had their fill of the games, which released in November 2021, but the opportunity to potentially obtain Pokémon exclusive to the version opposite theirs could be enticing. This addition, alongside the arrival of Darkrai and Arceus to Pokémon BDSP, will likely keep engagement in the game higher than it would be otherwise.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus was recently released, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are set to arrive this year as well, so it's hard to know how long Game Freak will continue to support Pokémon BDSP. The games are remakes of the original Nintendo DS titles, so while many fans of the franchise were happy to get their hands on them, they will likely be more excited by the future of the series. It looks like Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are still getting content though, so fans of these specific games may have more to look forward to.
Source: VGC
