The Tragedy of Galarian Corsola

When coral bleaching came to Pokémon.

Global warming bleaches coral reefs, because warm waters damages algae that protects the corals. Not even digital corals are safe. Corsola is a coral-based Pokémon first introduced in 2000. 19 years later, in Pokémon Sword/Shield, a new variant of Corsola evokes bleached coral, the same as the coral dying in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It’s type – a defining gameplay aspect of every Pokémon species – has shifted from Water & Rock to Ghost. Many players seem to have reacted with shock and sadness, hopefully allowing them to process some of these feelings within the extremely safe and nurturing world of Pokémon.