Patches for Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are now available to download off via the Nintendo eShop. The version 1.5 patch for X and Y as well as the version 1.4 patch for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire both officially state that: "Various bugs have been fixed to provide a smoother gaming experience." (ゲームを快適に遊んでいただけるよう、いくつかの問題を修正しました。) The patch is required to play in all official tournaments as well as any online play.

XY Version 1.5 QR Update Codes

ORAS Version 1.4 QR Update Codes

Sources: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/ecrj/update/index.html and http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/ekjj/update/index.html

Patches for Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are now available to download off via the Nintendo eShop. The version 1.4 patch for X and Y as well as the version 1.3 patch for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire both officially state that: "Various bugs have been fixed to provide a smoother gaming experience." (ゲームを快適に遊んでいただけるよう、いくつかの問題を修正しました。)

The patch is required to play in all official tournaments as well as any online play. It has been reported though that the patches block the injection hack that players have been using lately on legitimate official Pokémon carts.

XY Version 1.4 QR Update Codes

ORAS Version 1.3 QR Update Codes

Sources: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/ecrj/update/index.html and http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/ekjj/update/index.html

The official Pokémon Tretta website has revealed that a Rotom will be distributed to players of Pokémon X and Y. While playing Pokémon Tretta Set 3, people can use the StreetPass function on their Nintendo 3DS to lure out the Rotom that has climbed into the Tretta machine. Once players have used StreetPass to build up enough electric power, they'll be given a Rotom from the Tretta Machine to their copy of Pokémon X or Y via local WiFi Mystery Gift. Having the games Pokémon X and Y, The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon and Pokémon Battle Trozei installed on the players Nintendo 3DS can help fill the gauge up faster. Rotom will be available from October 15th, 2014 for the entire duration of Set 3.

The Rotom that is being distributed is: Level 10, has the OT Tretta (トレッタ), has the ability Levitate, is stored in a Cherish Ball and knows the moves: Shock Wave, Astonish, Trick and Thunder Wave.


Source: http://www.pokemontretta.com/event/e140912_1/index.html

The Pokémon Tretta Set 3: Search for the Ultimate Partners!

The Pokémon Tretta Set 3: Search for the Ultimate Partners! (ザ・ポケモントレッタ 03弾 さがせ！さいきょうのなかま) will be available in Japanese arcades starting on September 25th, 2014. The Legend class Dialga appears as well as the Master class Lizardon and Bangiras who can Mega Evolve. The Combo mark returns with the Meowstic Tretta's and it allows players to use two specific Pokémon together to perform a combo attack.


Source: http://www.pokemontretta.com/tretta/t12/index.html

The official Pokémon website has announced that players of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y can receive a Shiny Gengar holding a Gengarite Mega Stone when they pick up a special code card from participating GameStop stores between October 13th, 2014 and October 26th, 2014. This Shiny Gengar can Mega Evolve into Shiny Mega Gengar during battles.

Also available at participating GameStop locations starting October 13th, 2014 is a Pokémon TCG: Gengar Spirit Link 2-pack. It includes two booster packs from the Pokémon TCG: XY Furious Fists expansion, as well as the Gengar Spirit Link Pokémon Trainer card that debuts in the next Pokémon TCG expansion, XY Phantom Forces.

Mythical Pokémon Diancie

Players of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y can then return to participating GameStop locations between October 27th, 2014 and November 16th, 2014 for a serial code card to receive the Mythical Pokémon Diancie. After receiving Diancie, it can be transferred into Pokémon Omega Ruby or Pokémon Alpha Sapphire when those games launch on November 21st, 2014 for the Nintendo 3DS. Once the Diancite Mega Stone has been obtained in the new games, players can Mega Evolve Diancie during battles!

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/a-pokemon-autumn-to-remember/

Nintendo released information about the sale of their software up to July 2014 in the United States. Pokémon X and Pokémon Y have sold a combined 4 Million copies in the United States alone now.

MILLION-MILE MARKERS: MARIO KART 8 CROSSES 1 MILLION, NINTENDO 3DS SOFTWARE HITS 40 MILLION

Mario Kart 8 has now sold more than 1 million total units in the United States alone, becoming the second Wii U game to cross that milestone, along with New Super Mario Bros. U (1.69 million). Mario Kart 8 continues to drive momentum for the Wii U platform. Through the first seven months of 2014, total sales of Wii U hardware and software have increased by nearly 60 percent and more than 135 percent, respectively, over the same period in 2013.

Notable Wii U games on the way this year include: Hyrule Warriors (Sept. 26), Bayonetta 2 (October), Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Holiday) and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Holiday). These games will be joined by amiibo, Nintendo’s foray into the toys-to-life category, which will launch this holiday season. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will be the first game to support amiibo. Other games that will support amiibo include Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10 and Yoshi’s Woolly World, with more to come.

The continued strength of the Nintendo 3DS platform can be attributed to the breadth and quality of its overall lineup of software. To date, more than 40 million Nintendo 3DS software units have been sold in the United States alone. This includes 41 titles with a Metacritic score of 80 or higher, seven of which have a score of 90 or higher; and nine games that have sold at least 1 million units in the U.S. alone:

• Mario Kart 7: 3.48 million
• Super Mario 3D Land: 3.09 million
• New Super Mario Bros. 2: 2.28 million
• Pokémon X: 2.10 million
• Pokémon Y: 2.01 million
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: 1.39 million
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf: 1.36 million
• Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon: 1.33 million
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: 1.09 million

Four of the 10 best-selling software SKUs for July are exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS platform. This includes Tomodachi Life, which finished at No. 5 and sold more than 85,000 units in its second month, and Pokémon Y (No. 8), Pokémon X (No. 9) and Mario Kart 7 (No. 10). Those last three games appeared on the list despite being on the market for 10 months, 10 months and 31 months, respectively. The lineup for Nintendo 3DS will be bolstered by three of the most anticipated games of 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (Oct. 3) and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire (Nov. 21).​

Source: http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=41899

Starting August 13th, 2014, players can receive a Heracross for their Pokémon X game or Pinsir for their Pokémon Y game. Initially these Pokémon will not have any held items but from August 18th, 2014 until August 31st, 2014, players can go to participating GameStop stores in the United States to get Mega Stones for the Pokémon to hold!

Look for a flyer at GameStop that contains a serial code. When players enter the code into their game, they'll receive the matching Mega Stone: Heracronite in Pokémon X or Pinsirite in Pokémon Y. GameStop will also be distributing a special preorder bonus poster for those that preorder a copy of Pokémon Omega Ruby or Pokémon Alpha Sapphire.

Heracross and Pinsir Distribution Instructions

You can receive Heracross or Pinsir via the Internet directly into your game. Follow these steps to receive the Pokémon!

1. Connect your system in the Nintendo 3DS family to the Internet.
2. Select MYSTERY GIFT on the main menu.
3. Select RECEIVE GIFT, then YES.
4. Select GET VIA INTERNET, then YES.
5. Watch as you receive Heracross (Pokémon X) or Pinsir (Pokémon Y)!
6. Speak to the delivery girl in any Pokémon Center to add Heracross or Pinsir to your party.
7. Be sure to save your game!

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/unleash-the-strength-of-two-tough-pokemon/

Canadian Distribution

The Pokémon Global Link website has posted the information for this distribution for Canadians. Unlike the United States, players in Canada can receive Heracross for their Pokémon X game or Pinsir for their Pokémon Y game via the Nintendo Network starting on August 13th, 2014. Sometime in September, a Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter containing a special code will be sent to Canadian accounts so that they can also get Mega Stones for the Pokémon to hold.

Source: http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/information/3ade2b4a-0c41-41ab-8572-be7e8a223084

The Pokémon Global Link announced that they are changing the Weekly Maintenance Time for the system. This is the normally scheduled downtime and not the extended maintenance that sometimes takes place.

Change in Scheduled Weekly Maintenance Time

Starting on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, the scheduled weekly maintenance time for the Pokémon Global Link will change as follows:

Current:
US: Every Monday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. EST
UK: Every Monday from 9:00 p.m. until Tuesday at 1:00 a.m. BST

New:
US: Every Monday from 8:00 p.m. until midnight EST
UK: Every Tuesday from 1:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. BST
This will also affect the time that new Rating Battle seasons begin.

Source: http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/information/53bb11c1-3a44-4563-88d8-0204076ee8a2

The Pokémon Center Tohoku will be holding the Pokémon Tanabata Festival (ポケモンたなばたまつり) 2014 from August 1st, 2014 until August 8th, 2014. The Tanabata Festival is a Japanese star festival that takes place yearly. In commemoration of the festival, a Jirachi will be distributed at the Pokémon Center Tohoku from August 1st, 2014 until August 31st, 2014. The Level 10 Shiny Jirachi knows the moves: Wish, Swift, Healing Wish and Moonblast and is holding the Star Piece item.


Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2014/07/140711_p03.html

The official Japanese Pokémon website announced that Vivillon will be distributed to players of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y at Pokémon Centers in Japan from August 1st, 2014 until August 31th, 2014. It will also be distributed from August 1st, 2014 to August 18th, 2014 at the Pokémon Center Summer Vacation Festival in Daimaru Kobe (ポケモンセンターなつまつり in 大丸神戸店). This is the 19th variant for Vivillon and this is the same one that was distributed at the Paris Pokémon Center except that it will be distributed in a PokéBall rather than a Cherish Ball. This variants pattern is based on the PokéBall (ボールのもようのビビヨン). The Vivillon being distributed is level 12 and knows the moves Stun Spore, Gust, Light Screen and Struggle Bug.


Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2014/07/140711_p05.html

Pokémon Center Summer Vacation Festival in Daimaru Kobe

From July 26th, 2014 until August 18th, 2014, the Pokémon Center Summer Vacation Festival in Daimaru Kobe (ポケモンセンターなつまつり in 大丸神戸店) will take place. Mini attractions including the Pokémon☆Kids Carnival (ポケモン☆キッズカーニバルのミニアトラクション) and Let's Play Pokémon Bingo! (ポケモンビンゴ大会で遊ぼう) will be available for people to participate in. The Pokémon Art Gallery exhibit from the Paris Pokémon Center will also be displayed. A Pokémon Stamp Rally will also take place. There will also be a booth setup for people to buy official Pokémon Center Merchandise.


Source: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2014/06/140627_e02.html

The Pokémon Global Link website updated with details on the Super Speed Double Battle Online Competition (超速！ダブルバトル！！).

Information
Region: International Registration Period: Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 00:00 UTC through Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 23:59 UTC Tournament Period: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 00:00 UTC through Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 23:59 UTC Ranking Results Announcement: Friday, August 15, 2014 Max number of participants: 50 000 Player divisions: Junior/Senior Division: Born 1999 or later. Masters Division: Born 1998 or earlier. Battle Type: Double Battle Pokémon Restrictions: Players may use any Pokémon from the National Pokédex, excluding the following: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, and Diancie. Pokémon brought over from Pokémon Black, Pokémon White, Pokémon Black 2, or Pokémon White 2 Versions via Poké Transporter could participate in this competition. Entry Gift: 1000 PokéMiles Points
Description
Battle against Trainers from around the world in lightning-fast Double Battles! Who will emerge as the master of the Super Speed Double Battle Online Competition? The competition used Rotation Battle format and players could register 3–6 of their level 1–100 Pokémon to their Battle Box. Pokémon are automatically became Level 50 during battles. A 10-minute time limit for each match was automatically enforced in-game, beginning at the start of each battle. If the outcome had not been determined when the time limit expired, the game automatically applied tiebreakers to determine a winner. At the beginning of each battle, players had 15 seconds to select 3 Pokémon to battle with. At the beginning of each turn, players had 20 seconds to select a move or change Pokémon in battle. If a player had not made his or her selections at the end of this period, the game automatically made selections for the player.