First announced in February 2024, gameplay and story details for Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been finally revealed in the latest Pokemon Presents. The game is confirmed for late 2025 for the Nintendo Switch. Watch the first bit of gameplay below!
Welcome to Lumiose City!
The story is set in the distant past of Lumiose City, first appearing in the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y games in 2013. An urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon. In Lumiose City, spaces frequented by people—such as shopping arcades, cafés, and restaurants—coexist with more natural areas, such as waterfronts and verdant parks. As part of Lumiose’s urban redevelopment plan, driven by a large corporation called Quasartico Inc., the city has been outfitted with “wild zones” to help humans and Pokémon share the city. These areas are constructed using cutting-edge technology to give Pokémon places to live. Within wild zones, you can battle Pokémon and catch them by throwing Poké Balls.
New characters include Jett, the CEO of Quasartico Inc., Vinnie, her secretary, AZ, the owner of Hotel Z, and Urbain / Taunie, a friend who lives and works at Hotel Z.
Real-Time Battles
In stark contrast to the turn-based RPG battles of mainline Pokemon games, where Pokémon took action once per turn, Pokémon Legends: Z‑A has Trainers and their Pokémon will moving around in real time during battles. Pokémon, when commanded unleash their moves when their Trainers command them to. This requires a different skillset for players to develop. Learning the precise timing for swapping out your Pokémon or using moves, the different lengths of time moves will take to launch, and how big an area the moves will impact. This unprecedented style of Pokémon battling brings new life into the Pokemon franchise.
The starter Pokemon will consist of old favorites: the Grass-type Chikorita, the Water-type Totodile, and the Fire-type Tepig. In addition, the Mega Evolution mechanic first introduced in Pokemon X and Y, will be appearing as well.
Which starter will you be chosing when Pokemon Legends: Z-A?
