Yesterday was Pokémon Day and The Pokémon Company streamed a 13-minute show to make big announcements about the franchise. One of the big announcements during the stream was the reveal of Pokémon Legends Z-A, a new iteration of the monster-hunting game that will be coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025.
It was earlier thought that the iteration would be set in the Kalos Region—which fans of the franchise will remember as the same setting for X&Y. At the end of the brief trailer, Mega Evolutions was teased which suggests the return of the mechanics which has not featured in the franchise in over 10 years.
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However, it was later alleged that the upcoming release will be set entirely in Lumiose City, according to Nintendo. In other words, players may not have the opportunity to explore the wider Kalos region and will be restricted to Lumiose City.
“Pokémon Legends: Z-A, an ambitious new entry to the Pokémon video game series, will launch on Nintendo Switch systems in 2025,” said The Pokémon Company. “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.”
Lumiose City is a reimagination of Paris and was the central hub of the game. In the original X&Y game, Kalos features 16 cities cities. Exploring the different cities was one of the many lures of the franchise. However, it appears fans won’t have that luxury in Z-A.
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From the trailer, it appears Lumiose has been expanded compared to the original game. There is a huge chance that the expanded city will contain multiple regions and life forms to enhance exploration. It may interest you to know that Paldea, a location where Scarlet and Violet was set is situated south of Kalos.
What does the Z in Pokémon mean?
The Z stands for Zygarde, a Legendary Pokémon that is featured in X&Y. Although Zygarde was catchable, there were little quests involving the monster which made fans believe there may be another installment in the series because it was a standard practice at that time. However, a third game never came in that generation.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus was the last entry in the series and was released in 2022. In the game, players travel back in time to the Hisui region. Hisui region later became Sinnoh and was the setting for Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. The entry was positively received by critics and fans for adding a refreshing twist to the franchise.
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The 2022 release did the perfect work of blending exploration and action with the franchise’s RPG roots. Also, it had one of the most unique settings in the franchise’s long history. Instead of the regular challenge where players had to defeat gym leaders and the Elite Four to become a master, it focuses on discovery. Players were challenged with understanding their monster as they set out to complete the Hisui region’s first Pokédex.
Pokémon trading card game is coming to mobile
The game will feature “immersive cards” and the rules will be streamlined to enhance quick battles. The Trading Card Game is expected to launch sometime this year on Android and iOS, according to the Pokémon Company.
“This game lets you easily collect Pokémon cards which players all over the world have enjoyed since they debuted in 1996, but in a new digital format,” said Takato Utsunomiya, The Pokémon Company’s chief operating officer.
“The Pokémon Company is developing this game as a three-party collaboration with Creatures Inc., the creators of the Pokémon Trading Card game, and DeNA, our partners in the development of Pokémon Masters EX.”
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Commenting on the game, Yuji Kitano, CEO of Creatures Inc. said the trading card game will feature “immersive cards [that] give players the experience of leaping into the world of the card illustration. What’s more, we’ve developed new streamlined game rules based on our existing battle system, so you can enjoy a quick battle during the free moments in your day.”
When it launches, players will be privy to two free packs of digital cards daily. Which of the announcements are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
