Summary
Pokémon Legends: Z-Awas one of the few known titles coming to the Nintendo Switch that didn’t appear during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, a surprising event, as there has been no new information since it was announced during the February Pokémon Presents event. The absence of a trailer could point to development delays, or it could be an intentional move on Nintendo’s part.
Theannouncement trailer forPokémon Legends: Z-Apointed to the game being much different than its predecessor,Pokémon Legends: Arceus.Lumiose City will be the setting, with the game being played entirely within itdue to an “urban redevelopment plan” that is slowly shaping the city to be a place that can be lived in more easily by both people and Pokémon. While a release date wasn’t given outside a 2025 window, the trailer highlighted the Switch logo, which fueled speculation that 2024’s first true Nintendo Direct would bring more information.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A May Be Waiting For The Right Moment To Reemerge
In A Nintendo Direct Full Of Big Announcements, Patience May Pay Off
In the past, The Pokémon Company has been specific about when it presents updates for its titles. For example, whenPokémon Legends: Arceuswas announced in February 2021, the company waited until August before it dropped its second trailer, which showcased both the game’s visuals and teases of the gameplay. In contrast, whenPokémon Scarlet and Violetwere announced in February 2022, the company waited until June of that year to show off more footage of the games.
TPC could also simply be waiting to highlightPokémon Legends: Z-Ain a more fortuitous way while also not competing with a slew of other announcements made during a Nintendo Direct. The most recentNintendo Direct had shocking reveals, includingThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and a new trailer forMetroid Prime 4, among others. The Pokémon Company could have been privy to all of that and felt it best to hold back the next trailer until the game was closer to release in 2025. However,it also could’ve looked at its own past and decided not to rush things.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Review - More Than A Trainer Journey
Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes risks to introduce new gameplay to an old series, restoring the enjoyment in a trainer journey and Pokémon story.
How Gen 9 May Be Affecting Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Lack Of Quality Has Players Nervous About Gen 10
Commercially speaking, bothPokémon Legends: ArceusandPokémon Scarlet and Violetwere massive hits on the Nintendo Switch. The games moved many units and truly showed the franchise’s future regarding open-world gameplay, new mechanics in battles, etc. However,many reviews cite numerous issues that weighed the games down. For Gen 9 especially, the launch was filled with bugs and technical issues, which were pointed out inScreen Rant’s review ofScarlet and Violet. It was a lack of polish previously unseen by Game Freak and The Pokémon Company.
WhileArceusachieved a much higherMetacriticaggregate score from critics and users, many pointed out that this title also could’ve used some polish, especially in the graphics department. While the overall look of the Hisui region was beautiful, and the unique visual aesthetic helped the game stand out, many cited the low-poly textures and framerate issues that held the game back.Other games on the Switch from various developers are able to deliver beautifully rendered experiences with minimal issues, which led to the finger getting pointed at The Pokémon Company and accusations about how it seems to rush games out.
That could be a big reason whyPokémon Legends: Z-Awasn’t presented. Game Freak could be working on polishing the game a great deal before it even showcases how it will look and play, so the series doesn’t fall prey to the same accusations of releasing games early again. That could’ve also been the reason for the ambiguous 2025 release date. That way, the company can delay the release date should it feel it needs more time to create a better product. However, should the delays go a certain length,it could open up the possibility ofPokémon Legends: Z-Abeing launch title for a new system.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Could Potentially Be A Launch Title For The Switch 2
Nintendo Will Want To Bring Multiple Key Franchises To Its New System Quickly
Nintendo has already confirmed the Switch 2– or more accurately, the currently unnamed Nintendo Switch successor – will be announced before the end of the current fiscal year, and that has led to many rumors and reports about what games will be on the system when it launches. Undoubtedly, Nintendo will want to lead with its best foot forward so that it can hit the ground running by highlighting the numerous titles the Switch 2 has to offer from the get-go.Having aPokémonentry at launch or near launch could be a big system seller, especially given the output ofPokémontitles on the Switch.
Between the mainline entries and the various spin-off titles, thePokémonfranchise sold nearly 100 million software unitson Switch. ShouldPokémon Legends: Z-Aget released on the platform, it could easily get the series over that number. Or, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company could decide to hold it back so that when Switch 2 launches, it will have another killer app at launch or near the launch window. It could also follow the path of past launch titles likeBreath of the Wild, which was released on both the Wii U and the Switch to help reach even more people.
Nintendo also did a dual release withThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which released on the newer Wii a month before its GameCube release.
Either way,Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s absence from the Nintendo Direct raises many questions about the game and when more information will be available. Given the reaction to the Nintendo Direct and the games that were revealed for both 2024 and 2025 within it, the company has options about when it can showcase the game next and when it can be released. There is much speculation about whichmechanicsPokémon Legends: Z-Awill take fromArceusand how the self-contained setting will affect the gameplay flow. Until another trailer drops and more is revealed, guesses are all that can be made.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
Lumiose City is undergoing redevelopment to create a space shared by people and Pokémon. This second entry in the Pokémon Legends sub-franchise builds off the unique catching and exploration mechanics first established in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
