Pokémon Home is a blessing for gamers. The cloud-based system compatible with Nintendo Switch allows players to connect with all the different Pokémon games so they can store their various collected Pokémon in one place. Pretty dang convenient, huh? It’s a treat for hardcore Pokémon trainers who don’t want to skip between games to take advantage of their prized catches.
The service, currently available on the Nintendo Switch eShop, also has another fun thing in store for Pokémon fans: a new version of Professor Oak. Known for his expertise on all things Pokémon, this researcher was once a competitive trainer who now lives and works in a research lab in Pallet Town.
This version of the professor looks quite different from previous depictions. The once prim and trimmed professor now sports a long mane of white hair and a pair of neon-green glasses that resemble arrows pointing in opposite directions. His name is Grand Oak, which means he’s more of a variation on the same character than a total reimagining, sort of like Samson Oak from Pokémon Sun and Moon. (Remember that Pokémon games exist across timelines and dimensions.)
Here’s a closer look at Grand Oak’s introduction on Pokémon Home.
Here is Grand Oak’s introduction the owner of Pokémon HOME. #PokémonHOME #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/23tGCyRE2c
— ?✧ﾟ Christine ?✧ﾟ (@corsolanite_) February 12, 2020
Naturally, fans have a lot to say about this updated Professor Oak character, namely that it looks like the old guy is having a bit of a midlife crisis.
please let this be professor oak having a midlife crisis https://t.co/aaRZhjIQxo
— seven fursánias ?️??️⚧️ (@AdriOfTheDead) February 12, 2020
Can you have a mid life crisis if you’re already old?
Professor Oak: pic.twitter.com/8wbncLou3D
— Matt Bragg (@Axialmatt) February 12, 2020
Others are wondering if Grand Oak is some kind of god in the Pokémon universe.
EITHER PROFESSOR OAK IS A GOD OR COULD KILL GOD AND I DO NOT CARE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE https://t.co/vzgj688Gxm
— Isaac with a bee (@isaac_vanilla) February 12, 2020
Buncha people saying that new Professor Oak, Grand Oak, “watches over” every timeline in Pokémon home like he’s some deity. Just be quiet and let Gamefreak have fun reintroducing Oak as foxy grandpa
— Gonk Droid (@YaBoyPonkster) February 12, 2020
Others are just having a grand ol’ time ripping on the character’s new look because… well, his design sort of calls for that exact sort of reaction.
Professor Oak rocking some insanely strong dirtbag uncle energy, like he’s going to give 13 year old me a PBR and yell at me about his ex wife Agatha pic.twitter.com/j2bvs4fZDY
— Goblinoid Sugar Daddy (@BrotherSRM) February 12, 2020
My dad finally coming back from buying cigarettes 19 years later. #PokemonHome #grandoak #professoroak pic.twitter.com/ZmT4PqF4Xp
— ?adobo ahai? (@lightterminal) February 12, 2020
Wait, this is Professor Oak? Did he get sucked into some hardcore drug bitcoin pyramid scheme? pic.twitter.com/mpp5jmTuYE
— Ben Moore (@BenMoore035) February 12, 2020
Grand Oak is one of the many exciting things about Pokémon Home, including the free Pikachu the system gifts you with on console, the expansion of the Pokédex, and more. It’s available for free on iOS and Android, and premium plans are also an option.
Featured Image: The Pokémon Company