Recently, the Pokémon community was stirred up when numerous images of a supposed new evolution form of Chimchar suddenly appeared on social media. Many initially believed this was a brand-new Pokémon set to debut in upcoming projects, but the truth behind it is far more interesting.
Not a new Pokémon, but a scrapped design from over 20 years ago
Lately, fans have been curious whether future Pokémon games will continue to add completely new evolutions for older Pokémon. However, instead of revealing a new creature, the viral images are actually beta designs of Chimchar and its evolutions Monferno and Infernape from the early development stages.
These designs were discovered in behind-the-scenes documents detailing the development of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl. The full set of concept art, unused Pokémon ideas, and other fascinating details were released, allowing fans to see Chimchar’s original prototype before Game Freak finalized its official look.
Beta Infernape shocks fans with a drastically different look
The most talked-about design is Infernape. Compared to the familiar image, the beta version looks like an entirely different Pokémon.
Instead of the agile, strong, and warrior-like figure fans know today, the old Infernape design is taller and more muscular but many have described it as somewhat strange and lacking the distinctive charm that makes this Pokémon so popular.
Several players believe that if this had been the final design, Infernape might not have become one of the most beloved starter Pokémon in history.
The community splits into two camps
Once the images spread, social media quickly filled with mixed reactions. Some were quite harsh on the old design. One humorous comment said, “If Chimchar’s final evolution looked like this, I’d just abandon it like Paul did in the anime.”
Another bluntly asked, “Is that really the final evolution?”
Many fans agreed that Game Freak made the right call by switching to the Infernape design players recognize today.
However, not everyone criticized it. A portion of fans praised the beta version for its unique style.
Some noted that the taller, more muscular Infernape “actually looks cooler than the official version,” while others said they liked both versions and found it hard to choose between them.
Looking back, many agree that Game Freak’s final choice was sensible, especially since Infernape is now considered one of the most popular Fire-type starters in Pokémon history.