Pokémon Legends: Z-A Announced, Coming To Switch In 2025

Zat is so Awesome

Not really jumping up and down for it since it's a bit soon from the last Legends game, but provided they tighten up some of the jank and padding from the first one I'm down for it. Certainly beats more Let's Go.

That said what a boring nothing of a stream. For all they showed that could've been a tweet.

They didn't show much but the fact that they are working on a (modern day) Legends game is absolutely amazing. And Mega evolution is finally returning

Really surprised that it's Kalos instead of Unova though

Btw the fact that it's releasing in 2025 makes me wonder if the game releases for Switch 2 as well

Megas are back!

I'm glad that Zygarde will finally get its own time in the spotlight after over 10 years. I hope we see some new mega evolutions.

I WAS JUST SAYING a Kalos revisit was my DREAM game and now it's coming for Switch 2 and it's a LEGENDS game too?! fjlasiejvkl AHHHHHHhh

Awesome! ...what is it like?

PLA is the best modern Pokemon game ever! PLA is simple and to the point!

Didn't see this coming and as a Gen 6 fan i'm excited to see more.

I'm surprised they're both skipping Gen 5 and the year of 2024 as a whole. When was the last time TCPI showed restraint on Game Freak's release windows and "let a game slip in to next year?"

It taking place in Kalos is cool but I really hope that Pokemon Company invested in getting Game Freak a support studio because considering they just finished the Scarlet and Violet DLC, this could turn into a whole other fiasco when Game Freak just doesn't have the needed time or man power alone

I'm so glad nobody predicted this! Heavy suggestion that this might be a Switch 2 launch title in 2025 (it'll be a dual launch on the OG Switch too)

The entire PP was a snooze fest until this part. Glad that my favorite pokemon mechanic is back! 🤩

Disappointed it's not Gen 5 related.

XY are the worst games in the series besides the OG Gameboy games and a huge part of that was Karlos just...sucking.

HELL YEAH!! Now we're talking!

This is cool, I still like X and Y a lot, so I'm down to revisit the Kalos region! Hopefully this one gets the proper amount of time in the oven to either use the Switch or successor hardware properly.

Next two games in the series: Pokémon Gentrification and Pokémon Redlining.

I'm very curious to see if it will be set during modern day or not. Would love to see the Legends formula applied to a modern setting

As long as they give shinies a damn sound when they show up, I'm in.

@mariomaster96 They even said "releasing worldwide simultaneously" instead of just "worldwide" like most trailers. It makes me curious with rumors that the new system was pushed back to next year. I wonder if TPC was planning for a Switch 2 reveal or not.

I'm super happy they have taken the feedback from S and V, and decided on a longer development time to make the game as polished as it can be. Also, the presumed idea of you building up the city the way you want sounds like an amazing gameplay loop.
All that being said, I do think Red and Blue on NSO would have been the perfect thing to tide us over and create hype for the Direct.

As a wise old fat man once said. “START. CHEERING. NOW!”

No Let's Go Johto or NSO Gameboy Pokémons, boooo.

I am so hyped for this. Even though 2025 is a long way off, I am happy they are taking their time to create a great game.

I was guessing Pokémon Legends Celebi, but this is just as good.

It sounds like it could be a Switch 2 launch title, or cross-gen at minimum.

Switch not getting a game release this year was the gag of the direct. Not Gamefreak actually taking their time to develop something properly.

Seeing how X was my first ever Pokémon game back when I was a kid, this is really exciting for me. Fingers crossed it all works out.

I know this will probably ignite yet another wave of Switch 2 discussion, but keep in mind that Game Freak always releases a game on a console after the successor is already released. Pokemon Crystal, Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon Black 2 & White 2 , and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Good to see we're getting another Legends game as the last one was fairly good. Kinda wish it was based on B&W since that was my favorite gen.

Another Legends game? Mega Evolution? And there taking their time and not releasing it until 2025??? Basically doing everything I could have wanted.

sounds great

Didn't is say at the end in small writing launching simultaneously in 2025?

@Zeebor15 The answer is 2015. (Not counting dlc) Although it seems like Pokemon Z was probably planned to launch that year.

SWITCH 2 launch game!! I'm SO HYPED omg

Looks like Z-A implies time traveling, along with displaying multiple blueprints in different styles, one hand drawn and the other 3D.

Honestly I would be down for a Pokemon city building mechanic (hell I could even be up for an entire game like it, if it was done right!)

an underrated Pokemon generation in my opinion, I loved the atmosphere in XY.

@Rockboy247 Launching simultaneously worldwide in 2025, yeah.

@mariomaster96 @mariomaster96 it did say in the trailer that it’s releasing “ simultaneously” . I think that might be a hint towards a new console. I hope.

@Uncle_Franklin Kalos was amazing, and we only got one single game for it! I honestly can't believe Game Freak is finally revisiting Kalos combined with the best spinoff series Pokemon has seen in a decade!

We know next to nothing about it, but X and Y was the generation that brought me back to Pokémon, and I really enjoyed Legends Arceus, so I'm actually feeling pretty hopeful for this one.

Hopefully since it's releasing in 2025, they'll give it plenty of time to cook. Also curious if it'll be just on Switch or on it and whatever Nintendo's next system is.

There you go! First announcement for the next machine. Last time it was DQ, this time perhaps more appropriately it's Pokémon.
...
And maybe Metroid even before this? Only time will tell.

I think the Switch 2 will have full BC with Switch games, and this then releasing on Switch. (With optional "upgrades" for Switch 2).

X and Y were terrible. Legends doesn’t interest me. A bad ending to an already lame Direct.
It’s what i expected, so that’s okay. I could use some time off from Pokemon too.

A nice surprise announcement. I didn’t like Legends as much as the base games, so I was hoping for Black/White remakes, but I can’t really complain. Excited to see more either way

Yeah no, I cried tears of happiness. My top 3 pokemon games in terms of experience were: HG/SS, X/Y, Legends Arceus.

Now you're telling me I get a combo of two of em?! It'll be 3 years of development between Legends Arceus and Legends Z-A. That's huge. They chose to do the game that sold less but was better received generally. Involving the player with direct Pokemon interactions more than ever before In a non-minigame way since HG/SS.

I am extremely happy.

@Con89 @mariomaster96 @mariomaster96 I think it's more likely meaning it's releasing in all regions at the same time. I feel like Pokémon has used this wording with other game launches in the past.

I loved X and I am super excited!

In the new Legends trailer it did say releasing “simultaneously“; I think that’s the strongest hint we’ve had for a new console, yet . So a current gen and next gen version . Interesting.

@Markiemania95 screams two consoles

@Con89 They always say that. This just means that the game will release in all global markets on the same day. Which in the past wasn't usual for Pokémon games.

Glad this is the only big announcement and it's not until next year. Please let it be properly polished. 🙏

Lowkey the best part of that was how between it and the SV DLC it hopefully killed Khu's credibility entirely. So tired of that dude's constant Riddler nonsense and how he gets mad any time anyone but him leaks Pokemon info.

@Lizuka By the time this releases we'll be, at the earliest, three years out from Legends Arceus. That's a pretty solid chunk of time.

Finally, gen 6 has more stuff! It was so sad how gen 6 was the only gen without extra stuff post-launch.
Seeing how PL:Arceus was oozing with potential, I'm very excited about this one!

@Rockboy247 No it doesn’t. It screams one, internationally, on the same day.

@Indielink It's less about time and more content to me. There's only one Pokemon game between them.

@sanderev Hope not because looking at the recent visual fidelity of their recent output; it will look like dog dirt

@TheWanderingBard It's always good to hear/read one's first time with Pokemon. My reach goes further back, most likely before you were born.

Nintendolife should do an article letting commenters express their first Pokemon game. Not unless they did before haha

I would've never guessed this in a million years. No Johto or Unova, we're skipping to Kalos? Also, the graphics do look like they might be improved, I do suspect this is a Switch 2 game that was forced to be delayed because the Switch 2 was delayed.

Pretty much a nothing announcement so long as they don't show actual footage. I want to know if they funked it up or not. Though it's releasing next year so we'll see in due time. Still a long wait. If it turns out decent, I'll get it!

Wait the TCG app marketing video hinted toward Kalos! I think they filmed in France!!

Oh hey...Game Freak are doing the following

• bringing back Megas
• probably tying up the AZ arc
• bringing back Kalos
• its a sequel to the game you'll said felt unfinished narratively
• likely giving Zygarde a story

GF are giving you the thing you bished about for 8 years

Two hopes though

• if we're collecting Zygarde cells, I hope it's more fun than the souls in PLA
• I hope it isn't too open world. Traveling in Hisui was a schlep. Maybe if it was more Arkham City like (assuming it's located solely in Lumiose). I don't want to go through sparce environments like SV or PLA (or 'dudun'sparce in the formers case ba-dum tsh). Kalos is a pretty region. I'd much rather if it was scaled back in scope for more aesthetic looking locations*

@Con89 They have extra time for polish, so I'm sure it will be better. I'm 100% certain it will be on the Switch, because the video says so. But it could run "improved" on the Switch 2 with a patch. (like many XBOX ONE games on XBOX Series)

@martynstuff *assuming Z-A has similar gameplay as PLA or if it's a new approach

I wonder if this will be anything like Arceus, with the throwing mechanic and catching Pokemon without fighting (stuff they ditched in Scarlet and Violet). Might be interesting then. It could also just be a city-builder. Maybe it all plays in one gigantic city?

Lol at the people who immediately assume it will be a Switch 2 launch-title or a dual release. Personally I think its just one of the very last Switch titles in Spring 2025, BEFORE we jump to Switch 2.

My initial reaction was not really surprised as I noticed the Eiffel looking tower, I was thinking "Is that Pokemon X or something?"
Anyway, I think this Pokemon Legends will be futuristic theme with some France accent.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if we get context on the ghost girl and the note at the station

Not sure what to think of it, I mean am happy and all for the folks who wished for a new Legends game but I did never play Pokemon X or Y and am not sure what to expect.As someone who didn't enjoy Legends Arceus, I wish this one to be better.
Just hoped for some Pokemon game releasing this year still, oh well.

Hell yea. I never get excited for these pokemon presents, but a new legends game is dope. Arceus was such a nice experience and I hope this is raising the bar even further. Can't wait for 2025!

@Henmii I think it's going to play exactly like PLA. Otherwise they wouldn't call it Pokémon Legends. There is no reason to make it a series and then change the gameplay.

New worst selling game incoming?

So they're FINALLY taking a year off!! Happy days!

By the way, this is REALLY interesting:
'Pokémon Legends: Z-A, an ambitious new entry to the Pokémon video game series, will launch on Nintendo Switch systems in 2025!'

According to this, the game will come to both systems, and hey, the next Nintendo console will be another Switch! That's great to hear! Can we confirm the name 'Switch 2' already?

Edit: Nah, I was just dreaming. The Switch systems are the ones we already know (Lite, Oled...). Meh.

"zig a zig ah" as the Spice Girls prophesied.

Pidgeot? Yes. Mega Pidgeot? YAAAAS! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, LET MEGA PIDGEOT COME BACK!

@HammerKirby Just like Game Freak always does a third version for their new generation. Or they always debut on new hardware with a new generation. Oh wait...

@the_beaver It’s referring to Switch, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite. Not the first time ‘Switch systems’ has been used like that by a long stretch.

@the_beaver Switch 2 CONFIRMED BABY

@Dom_31 How are the first games the worst in the series? They have so much heart, so many new ideas, such ambition, such charm, such a fantastic soundtrack... It really feels like a game that the creators wanted to make and a game that the whole staff was so passionate about. Sure, the newer games can be considered to be better because they built on what the older games laid down, and it's not balanced well, but it created such a world and such a legacy that it's pretty much unparalleled.

Games should never be judged in a vacuum, but with context. And while I think Black/White are probably the most well-made games in the series, when taking everything into consideration, the first generation might overall be the best.

2024 is going yo be a ghost town for Switch now that next gen is likely delayed to next year Nintendo doesn't even have Pokemon so carry their 2024 holiday

@Markiemania95 Btw I appreciate that both our contrasting comments are situated back-to-back 🤓

I wonder if the power outage in that city that kept you from progressing is fixed with dlc this time.

christmas came early this year.

@RupeeClock I'm calling it now - Legends Z-A does NOT take place in the future. Instead it's after Kalos' Great War. Az's ultimate weapon both killed off most of the population and released the radiation that created Mega Stones. This game will be about the survivors rebuilding the country and discovering Mega Evolution in the process.

@Lizuka Always keep your Pokémon Day stream expectations low. They happen every year whether they have big news to share or not.

@Markiemania95 Really? Where else?? It's the first time I see it lol

I hope this built around Switch 2 specs rather than the current Gen. I’d hate to have a dual console release because that means certain features have to take a backseat to make it work for both consoles. Just make it for the Switch 2. Let’s move on from the switch already.

@Bolt_Strike They didn't show any graphics for the game.

I really hope they reach out to Monolith Soft to help with building a better open world. I loved Legends Arceus, they just need to iron out the issues.

Nice, I love the original Legends Arceus so can't wait for this. If they take their time with the game this time hopefully they could polish up the visuals this time, heck maybe even move development to the successor if they could.

@Vivianeat so close, it's actually spelt PAL (world)

@the_beaver Don’t get ahead of yourself. “Nintendo Switch systems” is almost certainly referring to the OG Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED. Much like “Nintendo 3DS systems” before it.

A Switch 2 announcement will come with time, but this isn’t it.

Having not played Pokémon X/Y, I have no idea what will happen here, but I'm assuming it has to do with Zygarde and Mega Evolution (probably how it came to be and why only certain Pokémon can do it).

Not disappointed as this is certainly not what I was expecting.

@BandeeOfTheStars Yeah, you're probably right hahah. It sounded too good to be true.

are they finally making good on the 3000 year old war that was a bg part of the game but went nowhere really.

Really interesting announcement.

My initial thought it, thank goodness they’re skipping a 2024 release. The franchise needs to rest a bit.

My second thought is launching on Nintendo Switch “systems” is a coded reveal that this will be a dual release as a 2025 launch game for Switch 2/Super Switch, as well as releasing on current Switch, a la Breath of the Wild.

I'm glad to see it. PLA was a breath of fresh air in-between two not so great mainline entries. I hope they are planning Legends games for each region. Johto, Hoenn, and Unova need some love. I also hope this dispels the incorrect belief that the Legends games are not mainline games.

@the_beaver https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/47524/~/how-to-play-your-games-across-multiple-nintendo-switch-systems

https://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo-switch-family/compare (Doesn’t feature in the page itself, but the title of the page in your browser uses the phrase ‘Compare - Nintendo Switch Systems’)

https://switch.nintendo.com/kids/ “Create your checklist! You can check off Nintendo Switch systems…”

I’m sure it’s featured in other trailers and adverts too, but I’m not about to trawl through YouTube videos to prove the point more.

@Broosh Well, there are rumours the Switch 2 delay is in favour of some extra game development time, this might be the game specifically so yea, the extra oven time might be this.

I absolutely hate the fact that they didn't show any gameplay at all. On the other hand, it would probably come with Game Freak's recent quality standards, so maybe that was a good thing. I hope one year in the oven is sufficient to make it significantly better. Not excited, tho.

@Vexx234 Haha, most likely. I was born the same year D&P came out so there’s three gens before I was even around.

@Markiemania95 Hahaha yes, you're definitely right. It's the first time I notice lol.
So it might be the last Switch exclusive.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
YEEEEEEEESS!
Legends gameplay is back! Pokemon Z is coming!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Ah, finally, a Nintendo game I can look forward to. (Other than Silksong. But that's Silksong.)

@mariomaster96 i see this as switch 1 only. pokemon is infamously late to the party with new hardware, i mean usum came out when the switch was already out for nearly a year

Wonderful news and it seems it’ll have plenty of time in the oven. Legends Arceus was an amazing change of pace for Pokémon. I’m glad we’ll get another go at one of these with hopefully a few changes. I would just like one of these with gyms and the traditional Pokémon story in the same legends open world setting. The one thing I didn’t care for was, is this game set solely in lumiose city? I do hope we have a great open landscape to explore and not just be confined to a urban setting.

This is definitely not surprising, but it is very welcome nonetheless! A bunch of people loved the original because of its more fresh approach to Pokémon as a whole. Glad to see this.

when i trought one day, Pokemon Company/Game Freak would do a Legends game on Kalos, i trought it will focus on the 3.000 year old Kalos War.

It definitely will help in selling more Switch consoles, so... It's a good thing. Nintendo Switch can outsell PS2... Nintendo Switch will outsell PS2!

Awesome, I was hoping the next Legends game would be set in Kalos. X/Y were great, and they really got the short end of the stick with no follow-up or major DLC. I'm curious how much they're going to touch on the lore from those games. I'd like to see it set during the ancient war that happened there, but given that Lumiose City has already been founded and that mega stones exist, it seems like we're probably still a ways after that.

Intriguing announcement by virtue of not being an expected region. Fingers crossed they smooth out the first game's issues!

Man, looks like they are finally taking their time with a Pokemon game. Usually not a fan of the gameplay, but this looks good. And do I see updated graphics to show off a new console…?

This alone was worth sitting through the presentation for. Though I do like the look of Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket too. I'm thrilled and actually sort of happy they're taking a main game series "break" the rest of this year. Arceus knows these games need more time in the oven. Besides, I'm just now playing Pokemon Legends: Arceus (post-game stuff, working on completing the Pokedex), so this should give me time to catch up to Gen 9. PLA is the most refreshing main series game I've played in years.

I will say it seems odd they're skipping Unova for now. I liked Kalos Pokemon X/Y gameplay-wise, but plot-wise they're still my least favorite. The long slog between the first and second gym almost made me drop it. At least Sun/Moon were slight improvements in that department.

@intergalacticNikolai Yeah but thb I could see it as a cross gen game
There may not have been a mainline cross gen Pokemon game yet but imo that's mainly because either the graphical jump was to big or the type of system was entirely differnt (3DS to Switch)

But if the Switch 2 is just a more powerful Switch I don't see a reason why they wouldn't be able to release the game with higher res + framerate etc on Switch 2

@OctolingKing13 I wouldn't get too excited. Pretty sure there's nothing in-engine in that trailer. Pokemon commercials always have great animation, but it doesn't usually carry over to the main games or show.

@Bolt_Strike ok thats fair. Nothing is 100%. But I just think its important to keep in mind to not set yourself up for disappointment.

So in Z/A, all the characters, cities and pokey are Tron simulations or something?

Eh Ill pass

Really? They picked the worst region in the main series? I mean, I'll still get it day one and probably enjoy it quite a bit, but Kalos is terrible.

@HammerKirby Time is a flat circle

@TheBigK NAHHH DONT SLEEP ON THE GOAT i dont just like gen 6 because of nostalgia that would be hilaaarious

Nice to see positivity on a pokemon game announcement. I am curious but will reserve hype for the end of the year. The announcement is a little far off for me.

Pokémon za confirmed

No new Pokemon game for 2024 is quite shocking and would mark the first time in this franchise's history where there isn't a Pokemon RPG for 2 consecutive years.

At least Pokemon Z is finally real now, just not in the way anyone thought.

@JugOfVoodoo This is a very good theory. You might be right!

@westman98 Pokemon games have actually skipped consecutive years many times before, especially in Gens 1-3. It's just that since 2009 with the release of Platinum there was a new Pokemon RPG every year with the exception of 2015.

So excited for another Legends!! Wonder if it will be out for Christmas

Lol, so many Gold & Silver teases, yet this was definitely not Johto. Troll Freak, you game.
But analyzing this, this is indeed a surprise. This will be Game Freak's second AA experimental main Pokémon game after Legends: Arceus, and that 2025 release date only ponders about cross-gen.

But I'm still worried about some stuff, I hope Game Freak knows what they can do and save the Gen 10 game for 2026 so they can accomplish that 4-year (or more) development cycle a modern AAA Pokémon game deserves.

And as long as Mega Evolutions return, I'm all for it! They are not strictly Kalosian, mind you.

So this basically confirms Switch 2 for 2025 right? me sad now, although this game is very exciting!

THIS JUMPSCARED ME JUST NOW

WE’RE FINALLY GETTING POKEMON Z, AND ITS A LEGENDS GAME?!

AND ITS GONNA HAVE MEGA EVOLUTION AND LORE ON THE KALOS WAR?!

IM SO EXCITED ASKSKDJDJABHSJSBZJ-

Now that I've seen in again, to be honest I don't know what this game could actually be. There wasn't even any gameplay footage, unlike PLA's reveal trailer. And to be fair, PLA's style should become commonplace with every Pokémon game onwards, in fact, that experimentation for the franchise was its purpose in the first place.
Just in any case, I hope it's still an action-adventure RPG, but that it introduces new gameplay elements that Game Freak wanted to experiment with recent Pokémon titles. The setting will be (a potentially futuristic) Lumoise City, which reminds me of open-city games like the pre-Origins Assassin's Creed games and Watch Dogs...

Oh this is for sure a Switch 2 launch window title.

And I'm glad. Legends is the ONE Pokemon game that really seemed to grab be. The gyro aiming and throwing Pokeballs at wild Pokemon was a big factor.

So incredibly glad they're continuing Legends. This is the direction I want to see Pokemon take.

While we have no idea what the game itself is like yet, I loved Legends Arceus despite its shortcomings so the idea of a new Legends game (and NOT rushed out this year) was probably my best case scenario from today's presentation since I honestly don't want any more remakes after BDSP was a total letdown.

@NintendoKnight I started playing these games in '99, but sure..

will launch on Nintendo Switch systems in 2025
..notice the "s"
so this is the very first game officially announced on the new Switch

@Bobb Pokémon is always behind the curve on new hardware. I’ll be very surprised if this comes out on Nintendo’s next platform.

@westman98 The DLCs for Scarlet and Violet count as the Yellow, version of Red and Blue, the Platinum, Ultra Sun, etc. So for now it's one year without a Pokemon game, which is still great. GF needs more development time to polish their games, that was clear long time ago.

Happy to see Legends continue, it's the fresh take on Pokemon the franchise desperately needed imo. And honestly the next generation mainline game should be a few years off yet if they know what's good. The rate at which they churn those out is why they come out mediocre with graphics people laugh at. More time in the oven needed. There's a reason we don't get a 3D mainline Mario or Zelda every 3 years. Just look at Sonic...

Mixed feelings.

X&Y were one of the most boring gens for me. There was too few new Pokemon, the story and world didn't excite me and Mega evolutions we awkward to get and brought back the problem of everyone using the exact same Pokémon that earlier gens had.
Dynamax/Gigantamax had it's issues, but at least it meant all Pokemon were valid options, not just the select popular ones that could go into OP mode.

But I would also say that Sinnoh was not a great gen for me and Arceus made it interesting. But then a large part of that was the historical setting, other aspects like having to catch 20 of the same Pokemon to fill the dex was tedious and repetitive.

I don't find a future Pokemon world all that exciting, it's already quite futuristic in the technology available. And if Scar/Vi are anything to go by, future Pokemon suck and all become robots for no reason. (Unless the DLC clears that up?).

I'll wait to see more before counting it out, but right now I'm not excited.

@Ulysses for now, it's only for the switch

Pokey Z/A looks like crap with the Tron like graphics. i assume the game will be a lame simulation VR game? no thanks.

Illl stick with Pokey Shield and Violet

The simple fact that it's Legends makes me want to buy it. Not being a bad mainline game focused on boring championships and online, it already gives me hope of having a second good Pokémon on the Switch besides Legends Arceus. 🤷‍♀️

I prefer Legends to the main line games, had a lot of fun with the 1st, and considering X & Y is among my favorite mainline games, this is great!

This was a surprising announcement. But exciting nonetheless. One, cause it's a new Pokémon game. Second, because it's adding some depth to a generation and region I thought was severely underwhelming.

Also, keep in mind Legends is being developed by a separate team from the main mainline titles. So I don't know if we can attribute what GF's main team does or doesn't do to this. Unless they've switched Legends or side mainline games development to their main team.

I also thought it seemed obvious that this is a Switch 2 game. Though I guess we have to wait and see what GF says or continues to not say on that front.

Wouldn't be surprised if this gets released on the switch and the new console. Like a "it runs on both but it's at it's best on the new console" situation which might be why they didn't want to show gameplay

@Dom_31
My thoughts exactly. I fell of mainline Pokémon hard after the disappointment of X and Y. Dying for some Gen 5 love...

@NintendoKnight
Gensixer detected. Opinion rejected.

@link12684 Be as technical as you like, but the timing is all but guaranteed to be cross-gen

After I played the 1-2 combo of SM/USUM, I thought I was done with Pokémon. After all, they sold an incomplete (literally filled with unfinished construction sites) game with slow gameplay and a dull story, and then they sold it again with a few minigames added. I was distraught with the state of Game Freak and the quality they were putting out.

Then I got Pokémon X for my birthday (I had previous skipped it because I'm very cheap) and I changed my mind entirely. The gameplay didn't necessarily break any new ground, but it told a deep story of a madman's quest for eternal life. No, it wasn't perfect, and I can't even remember the Elite Four, as I don't think they added anything to the main plot, but when the credits rolled... I think I probably shed a few tears.

It was preachy, but it felt like there was more to it then just "being the very best, that no one ever was", and now that's what I want from any future Pokémon games, although I don't really have high hopes.

So, the last Games did run so bad, they decided to throw out Textures and call it Style and Ambitious haha

"switch" lol people yelling switch 2.
Nowhere does it say switch 2.
They say on switch systems (plural) Switch Lite, switch regular and switch oled.

Fix those buggy releases first.

After playing palworld, they really need to step up their game.

@TheRealMr_Carpainter outside of the big areas in Gen 8 being terrible, I actually, mostly, enjoyed the games past Gen 6 tbh. Gen 5 is peak, but I'd argue 7 is close behind it and I'd put SwSh and SV - as inexcusable as the technical side of Gen 9 is - somewhere around Emerald.

Kanto and Johto always were crusty as hell, if charming (and I have a lot of nostalgia for Gen 2). Sinnoh is a neat region with bad gameplay and Karlos is just...ew. Something about gen 6 as a whole just rubs me the wrong way, awful remakes, too. As much as I adore emerald/hoenn.

@Ulysses If the switch 2 is backwards compatible, sure. Pokemon is known for not supporting the new system until a year later. I don't expect them to release a better version for the switch 2. A personal belief of mine

@link12684 Key words until a year later. This is what Legends Z-A was going to do: Switch 2 releasing in 2024, and then Legends releasing in 2025.

Except, Nintendo decided to delay the Switch 2. Thus, we get the new timing of Legends launching for both generations simultaneously.

And it won't be that much better. It'll have subtleties like better lighting, more stable performance, perhaps a few texture/draw distance/etc upgrades, but it won't be huge.

Very happy they skipped my favorite regions of Johto and Unova, so they won't ruin them with mediocre 3D games.

Scaling back to the single city of Lumiose makes me cautiously optimistic that they can make a more dense world again. Maybe with city building stuff, they can make a more interesting gameplay loop than "bonk 25 of this pokemon on the head with heavy balls". Maybe revamp the battle system and feature more trainers? And we can expect some new evolutions. This is another chance to make certain pokemon's evos permanent like they should have been, Mawile and Absol come to mind.

Arceus is my favorite Pokémon game by far, so I'm thrilled to see this announcement! I can only hope it runs at a PS5 Pro frame rate! But I'll play it even if it's only 60fps or a blurry unpleasant 30!

Nice! I haven't really been into the Pokemon series since Gold/Silver, but I enjoyed Legends Arceus a lot. Here's hoping that the gameplay will stay similar, but with the touch-ups to fix the issues of the original.

Not going to lie, I would play a Pokemon game using vector graphics!

Legends have so much potential for content in general:
Gen 1 there was a War that Lt. Surge was part of.
Gen 2 can talk about the burned tower and Ho-Oh making Entei, Raikou, Suicune from Flareon, Jolteon and Vaporeon.
Gen 3 has Kyogre and Groudon's fight in the past, but that might just be a re-hash of Emerald.
Gen 5 could talk about the original Dragon and the brothers that broke it into Reshiram and Zekrom.
Gen 6 has the War with the weapon that sacrifices Pokemon to power it. I will take this War over Kanto's.
Gen 7 could be about how the Tapus came to protect the Alola island.
Gen 8 could be about the 1st Dark Day, but once again like Gen 3 that would just be a re-hash of the same story.

This was a lot better than expected. I expected literally nothing and we got a gorgeous looking Pokemon TGC Pocket and Pokemon Legends 2. The future is looking bright.

I wonder how you are supposed to prounce it?

Zee Ay? Zed Ay? Z dash A? zah?

Honestly, the most exciting thing is that it isn’t coming this year.

More development time please!

Never played x y but I love that region so much it’s got to be one of my favorites! So to be able to play it in a legends game is just amazing and it makes me excited! I’m also happy it’s not coming out till next year! That’s great to hear, I could be wrong of course but that kinda tells me they are going to take their time with it I feel like! Which couldn’t make me happier as a fan.

@Lakichu89 Don't really know why, "I'm cool with it but not like super enthusiastic," is worth the condescension but whatever, dude.

@BookhouseBoy You mean like every single Pokémon game in the past two decades that had a modern/present day setting?

@Ulysses I didn't knew Nintendo already announced a new system, did they announced it on this presentation?!

@NintendoKnight
Well, I could try lol. All in good sport, mate!

Wonder what the leafy A stands for, since Z is clearly for zygarde? I'm guessing it'll take place around the late 1800s, or the turn of the century, and maybe have themes about how industrialization began to clash with, and supplant rural life and nature? But who knows?

@BlackenedHalo There already are 3 different Nintendo Switch systems (4 even if you count the 2019 Switch as a different one).

This doesn't prove anything.

@mariomaster96 Tbf, Legends did start right smack-dab in the middle of the series instead of the first or second game. Although I agree with your sentiment.

I'll wait till I see some gameplay footage before getting excited but it's refreshing to see that there's nothing significant in the pipeline this year; hopefully it means they're finally giving the games the polish they sorely need.

@Ogbert Just so you know, going off of the trailer, some of the lore in XY, and part of the logo (since the “A” in Z-A resembles and upside-down version of the Ultimate Weapon), it looks like this’ll be after the Kalos War, so Legends Z-A will definitely be sometime in the past, albeit not as far in the past as Legends Arceus.

@Tempestryke I wouldn't be surprise if it ties up with AZ from X and Y

I have faith that THIS will be the Pokemon game they put effort into and that it will be up to parity with other modern games! I've also recently suffered head trauma!

@Ks123 I'd be so happy if it's called Super Switch omg

@LikelySatan SAME! haha my controversial opinion is that the Wii U would have been a much bigger success if they had just called it Super Wii instead

@Ks123 I like fun. Game stuff should be fun

@Ulysses I don't share the enthusiasm, but I do love to see it

The biggest take away for me is the fact that it’s a 2025 release. So likely a next-gen release, but also the fact that it’ll likely have more development time than past titles.

Hoping for the best here.

It's gonna be a launch game for the next Switch. Oh boy, I can't wait to see what it looks like.

@rushiosan You're right. I really hope it's the exact same game again

I loved Legends Arceus (by far the best Pokémon game on Switch), and this is set to be even better.

I'm only disappointed that we aren't getting a Gen II/V remake this year (my two favourite generations), though I would be happy with a (relatively) barebones port of X&Y (perhaps at a budget price) in the lead-up to Legends Z-A's launch, especially for the young'uns and lapsed Pokémon players who missed out the first time.

And if this ends up being a multiplatform release, I'm a little torn about whether I would buy both versions. It would be nice to own a version I can play on my older hardware (especially the Switch Lite), but it's kind of like retroactively buying a DVD to a movie that you already own on Blu-ray. Unless the older platform offers something (anything!) that the newer platform doesn't, then I'll probably just stick with the Switch 2 version.

If this is a Switch 2 release, sorry but never got in to Pokemon, so to me this is a disappointment.
But as it says will be release over the switch systems so yeah Switch 2 confirmed

Meh. No actual gameplay so not hyped at all. Will wait and see what they have to show first

palworld without gun

I wonder if they will finally add voice acting or not.

@Bobb Except Pokemon is infamous for sticking with hardware for as long as they possibly can. Emerald's International Release, Black2/White2, and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon were all released on consoles after that console's successor released. I think "Fourth time in a row" is a more reasonable assumption than "First Pokemon launch title ever", when it seems very likely the Pokemon Company's priorities are very different from Nintendo.

It seems like a massive stretch that people are taking this as a psedu announcement for a console not even formally confirmed by Nintendo with a code name.

@sanderev

Unless the whole idea is to revisit old Pokemon places with new gameplay.

Arceus was a lot of fun, I hope this is too.