It seems that Pikachu has gone on the Atkins diet, as the artwork for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX has made the Pokémon significantly skinnier than in the artwork for the two original games.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team for the Nintendo DS and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team for the Game Boy Advance. The main character is a human who wakes up in the Pokémon world and has been transformed into a Pokémon. In the games, it's possible to play as Pikachu or have a Pikachu as a partner.
It turns out that there aren't many Sir Mix-A-Lot fans at Game Freak, as Pikachu is a lot skinnier in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX artwork than in the same artwork for the original games. The change was noticed by napstachill on Twitter, as Pikachu is slimmer and has reduced thighs in the new artwork.
Pikachu's design has changed a lot over the course of the history of the Pokémon franchise. The original version of Pikachu from Pokémon Red & Blue was a lot chubbier and had a circular pattern on its belly. As time went on, Pikachu became a lot skinnier and its feet became more a part of the bottom of its body, with its legs being phased out. The original chubby-chu was referenced in Pokémon Sword & Shield, as Pikachu's Gigantamax form is as Rubenesque as they come.
The original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team games were released back in 2006 and the design of Pikachu has gradually shifted over time. Fans who want their fix of the original Pikachu will either have to start Gigantamaxing or dig out their old Game Boy, as Game Freak is now actively making sure that the skinny design sticks, even when remaking the older Pokémon games.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX will be released for the Nintendo Switch on March 6, 2020.
Source: Twitter