Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Everything big we know so far

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is likely one of the most anticipated Nintendo video games of the approaching months, with loads of pleasure inspiring rumours, hypothesis, and chatter. We already know a lot concerning the recreation – its setting, characters, and new options – however there’s nonetheless ample mysteries surrounding it.

Will it connect with fellow Kalos video games, X&Y? Will it tie into Pokemon Legends: Arceus? Only time and persistence will assist to reply these questions – however within the meantime, we can dive into what’s been revealed.

Here’s what we know about Pokemon Legends: Z-A so far.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Platforms and Release Date

Pokemon Legends Z-A is at the moment concentrating on launch in 2025. Given the lead-up to its announcement, we can assume the window refers to early 2025, however Nintendo hasn’t confirmed that but.

What’s extra necessary to notice is the corporate has recently announced the Nintendo Switch 2, and Z-A might very seemingly be a launch recreation for this upcoming console, as its trailer revealed it’s going to launch “simultaneously” in 2025.

Read: Nintendo Switch 2: Predicting all the major launch titles

This wording is usually used to indicate launches on a number of consoles (in any other case, Nintendo would’ve left it at “releases worldwide”) so we can assume Z-A will likely be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 and the unique Nintendo Switch. Again, this hasn’t been confirmed by Nintendo, but it surely feels protected to imagine as a lot.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Will the story connect with X&Y?

The Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer has confirmed this recreation is ready inside Lumiose City, which was first launched in Pokemon X and Pokemon Y for Nintendo 3DS. Lumiose is likely one of the largest cities within the Kalos area, and operates as the guts of this location.

Per the sport’s official description, Lumiose would be the solely location featured in Z-A, so we can count on it will likely be considerably expanded from its look in X&Y: “A new adventure awaits within Lumiose City, where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon.”

Read: The Pokemon Center has landed in Australia and New Zealand

“Urban development” appears to be the important thing theme of this upcoming journey, with Lumiose City within the midst of a significant enlargement. This can be hinted at by the “blueprint” model trailer which depicts Lumiose as a neon metropolis in flux.

Beyond these clues, Nintendo and Game Freak are but to totally develop on the plot and story of the upcoming recreation – though we could make additional assumptions it’s going to characteristic gamers studying extra about Pokemon and exploring Lumiose City completely.

Is Pokemon Legends: Z-A linked to Pokemon Legends: Arceus?

Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon Legends: Arceus don’t have a transparent connection simply but, past sharing a subtitle. While there was hypothesis that Arceus hinted at Z-A by clues hidden in clothes, these theories are pretty wild and unfounded.

For now, Nintendo and Game Freak haven’t drawn a parallel between these video games, or defined what their shared “Legend” subtitle really means. While we might actually see them join in future, because the imaginative and prescient for Z-A turns into clearer, for now, they do look like separate video games.

Arceus is a recreation about Pokemon researchers charting a distant previous (though the sport’s protagonist comes from the longer term, and may very well be seen in Z-A). In Z-A, gamers will discover a future the place Pokemon and people are extra linked.

Should Z-A take something from Arceus, we do hope there’s some interrelation between the exploration and Pokemon-catching mechanics in these adventures. Pokemon Legends: Arceus launched a superb Pokemon Go-model catching mechanic the place you would instantly throw Poke Balls at wandering creatures, and it labored brilliantly to streamline the motion. Likewise, the sport’s fully-explorable open world was an actual pleasure, and allowed for a vivid sense of freedom.

For now, we’ll have to attend to see gameplay from Pokemon Legends: Z-A to know whether or not it’s going to borrow from the most important successes of Arceus.

Why is Pokemon Legends: Z-A referred to as that?

The title of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is at the moment very mysterious – however there are clues to its origins hiding in its official brand design. Looking on the “Z-A” it seems fairly clear the emblem is impressed by the color palette and sample of Zygarde, the Dragon/Ground Legendary Pokemon first launched in Pokemon X&Y. The scales, colors, and leafy particulars match completely, and it is sensible that this might be the case.

The prior Pokemon Legends title was named after Arceus, one other Legendary Pokemon, so we can assume the subtitle is supposed to check with Legendary Pokemon. If the “Z” of the title additionally stands for Zygarde, we might assume the “A” stands for Arceus, drawing a parallel between the 2 video games, and maybe interrelating them.

It’s additionally attainable that Z-A is just a placeholder identify that may very well be changed as soon as Nintendo and Game Freak are prepared to indicate extra. Should the sport follow previous naming conventions, it’s attainable this recreation may very well be named Zygarde in future – however in fact, that’s pure hypothesis.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Every confirmed Pokemon so far

So far, a spread of Pokemon have been confirmed to look in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, together with many beforehand featured in Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. As noticed in early trailers, we know the next Pokemon will seem:

Pikachu, Pyroar, Floette, Litleo, Klefki, Furfrou, Flabébé, Fletchling, Dragonair, Gyarados, Emolga, Arbok, Absol, Hippopotas, Skrelp, Magikarp, Staryu, Hawlucha, Sylveon, Pinsir, Heracross, Talonflame, Onix, Bellsprout, Aegislash, Sandile, Krookodile, Pangoro, and Ariados.

In addition, you may count on every of those Pokemon to have their evolutions current within the recreation, so add Eevee and its different Eeveelutions, Dragonite, Pancham, and so on, to the listing.

What are the Pokemon starters in Legends: Z-A?

For now, Nintendo has not confirmed which starters will likely be included in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, however we can assume they are going to be native to the Kalos area, based mostly on the setting of this upcoming recreation. There has been some hypothesis that Turtwig, Totodile, and Litten may very well be the starters, based mostly on assumptions a few latest Pokemon TCG pack – however this does really feel a bit unlikely.

With Lumiose City the main target of this journey, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie might return – however any mixture of Kalos-native Pokemon may very well be included as starters.

Mega Evolutions will return in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

As a pleasant shock, the Z-A trailer additionally revealed the return of Pokemon Mega Evolutions. While we haven’t seen any Mega Evolutions simply but, the rainbow brand for the power-up appeared briefly, as a teaser.

For now, we don’t know what function Mega Evolutions will play within the story, however given they’ve already been teased (forward of any vital character or story reveals), we can assume they’ll be plot-relevant.

When will we study extra about Pokemon Legends: Z-A?

There are two seemingly cut-off dates we’ll study extra about Pokemon Legends: Z-A. The first is the subsequent main Pokemon Day – which is held yearly on 27 February. Typically, The Pokemon Company will maintain a particular “Pokemon Presents” showcase on or round this date, with new recreation reveals included. This yr’s celebrations haven’t been introduced, however we anticipate extra information quickly.

The second seemingly level we’ll see extra of Pokemon Legends: Z-A is on 2 April 2025, the day at the moment designated for the most important Nintendo Switch 2 reveal. Given we anticipate this recreation will likely be a launch title for the brand new console, we assume (and hope) new particulars will likely be revealed in the course of the showcase.

For now, we don’t know for certain when we’ll see extra of this upcoming recreation, but it surely’s at all times good to remain hopeful, and to control the horizon.

Stay tuned to GamesHub for the newest information and updates for Pokemon Legends: Z-A.