The new Pokémon Scarlet & Violet DLC patch adds some much-needed quality of life fixes

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet was originally released nearly a year ago on November 18, 2022 – and since then, scores of fans have been asking Game Freak to implement a slate of quality of life features, including ones (frustratingly) previously found in the celebrated Pokemon Legends. Like most things Game Freak-related, some fixes have been rolling out at a snail’s pace, including the updates added in patch 2.0.1, which is now live thanks to the launch of the Teal Mask DLC.

Here are the main highlights of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet patch 2.0.1

• The minimap can now be locked north, so long as you press the right stick twice when you have the map app open (a bit annoying, but at least it exists!).
• You can swap camera options around, and play music in the camera app. The patch notes say that “you may find that Pokémon accompanying you in the field and people around you will react to the music,” which is cute. Photo sharing is also in while you’re in the Union Circle online component.
• The TM Machine can now be filtered by moves Pokemon can use, which crazily was not implemented in 1.0.

Beyond those additions, a few bugs were cleaned up, which are always appreciated in any mainline Pokemon game from the Switch era onward. You can read the full patch notes below as you start downloading the DLC!

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Patch Ver. 2.0.1 (Released September 12, 2023 – Full Notes)

Newly Added Features

• You will now be able lock the mini map that appears while you are out in the field so that up is always north. You can do this by pressing the Right Stick twice while you have the map app open to select the App and mini maps locked setting.
• Camera settings have been added to the Options menu. These settings will let you adjust how the camera works while you are out in the field.
• We have added a feature that allows you to signal a Pokémon accompanying you in the field to stop and wait where it is. To give this signal, press the Left Stick.
• You can now take pictures by pressing the A Button in the camera app.
• You can now play music by pressing the ZL Button or ZR Button while the camera app is open. You may find that Pokémon accompanying you in the field and people around you will react to the music.
• While using the Union Circle, Trainers can now share photos they have taken with the camera app during that Union Circle session with the friends they are playing with.
• We have added a feature to TM Machines that allows you to filter for moves your Pokémon can learn. By interacting with a TM Machine and selecting the option to filter for learnable moves, you will be able to display only TMs containing moves that a specific Pokémon can learn.

Bug Fixes and Feature Adjustments

• Incorrect descriptive text for the moves Ceaseless Edge, Dire Claw, and Stone Axe has been corrected. The descriptions for these moves previously included the words “aiming to land a critical hit,” but these moves do not increase the critical-hit ratio in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. This wording has been removed from these descriptions.
• We have fixed a bug where the Itemfinder Mark would not be applied to a Pokémon even if the conditions were met.
• Wild Pokémon that have the Titan Mark will now reappear in the field after a certain amount of time if they have been defeated.
• We have made adjustments to the way Pokémon icons are displayed in the Boxes.
• Other select bug fixes have been implemented.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet still has a ways to go

These updates are great, don’t get me wrong, but there’s still a lot that needs to be fixed or even stabilized in the Scarlet & Violet generation overall.

That extends to the Teal Mask DLC as well, as I encountered slowdown in multiple areas: which is a bummer when you’re just trying to focus on exploring a new land for the first time in months. Hopefully, future fixes will be a little heftier, and we’ll get another round before the next DLC.