The Pokémon Company International has revealed more about Pokémon Legends Z-A, shared within its latest Pokémon Presents broadcast to celebrate Pokémon Day 2025.
Now scheduled to launch in late 2025, the game is set in Lumiose City where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place where humans and Pokémon can co-exist.
After you arrive in Lumiose City, you will have the chance to befriend either Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile who will become your first partner Pokémon.
The new information that has been revealed through the trailers about the upcoming games includes:
- Explore Wild Zones and Make Pokémon Your Allies: Players can catch wild Pokémon living in wild zones or out and about in Lumiose City by aiming a Poké Ball at them and letting it fly. Some Pokémon will flee immediately if they spot the player, meaning players should hide out of sight or approach from behind to make themselves harder to notice. Players can also battle Pokémon to lower their HP, making them easier to catch.
- A Pokémon Series First: Trainers and Pokémon Taking Real-Time Actions During Battle: In previous Pokémon video game series titles, Pokémon’s actions were turn-based. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Trainers and their Pokémon will move around in real time during battles, and Pokémon will unleash their moves when their Trainers command them to. New gameplay mechanics include precise timing for swapping out Pokémon or using moves, the different lengths of time moves will take to launch, and the total area the moves will impact.
- People and Pokémon You Can Encounter in Lumiose City: While visiting Lumiose City, players will stay in an old hotel named Hotel Z and encounter the hotel’s owner, AZ—plus his partner Pokémon, Eternal Flower Floette, an unusual Floette that holds a black flower. This hotel will serve as players’ base of operations as they experience all sorts of adventures in Lumiose City alongside new and exciting characters, such as Urbain or Taunie—a new friend players will make throughout their adventures. The appearance players choose at the beginning of the game will determine which of the two they’ll meet.
- Mega Evolution: In Lumiose City, Trainers will sometimes be able to see Pokémon undergo Mega Evolution—a kind of Evolution that transcends standard Evolution. Effectively using Mega Evolution will likely be key to victory in Pokémon battles.
Pokémon Legends Z-A will be released exclusively for Nintendo Switch worldwide in late 2025.
Pokémon Legends Z-A Trailer
Pokémon Legends Z-A Extended Look
Pokémon Legends Z-A Screenshots
