Today, Japanese magazine CoroCoro released the first details on the first direct sequel in the Pokemon franchise, Black 2 and White 2.

Rather than a stereotypical third title (such as Pokemon Emerald or Pokemon Platinum), these new titles bring a lot of new material.

The sequels are set in the same region as Black and White, that region being Unova, but a lot has changed. Some of the map has been frozen (speculated to relate to the ice legendary, Kyurem), other areas appear differently, new areas, new trainers, new gym leaders, a new rival and a rumoured new protagonist.

A new city was revealed, called Hiougi City, and is the protagonists new home town, along with a gym leader who specialises in Water-types and one who specialises in Poison-types.

New details on Kyurem’s new forms were also uncovered, revealing Black Kyurem (the merge of Kyurem and Zekrom) and White Kyurem (the merge of Kyurem and Reshiram) will be able to learn Freeze Shock and Ice Burn respectively.

The Black and White Pokedex of 155 has been bumped up to 300, also. While this does not feature any new Pokemon (as of yet), Pokemon from other generations are now present in Unova. Those that were revealed include Arcanine, Psyduck, Lapras, Tyranitar, Riolu and Metagross.

Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are currently set for a June 23 release in Japan, with an international release date being in the second half of this year.

See images over on Serebii.