During Thursday's Pokémon Presents broadcast (27), The Pokémon Company revealed new details about Pokémon Legends ZA. The game, scheduled for late 2025, will take trainers back to Lumiose City, which first appeared in Pokémon X and Y, but now revamped with a new urban design and improved mechanics.
- Assassin's Creed Shadows' full trophy list revealed
- Pokémon GO confirms its presence at gamescom latam 2025
This time, Lumiose will undergo a technological transformation led by the fictional company Quasartico Inc. The idea is to create a modern city where humans and Pokémon coexist in harmony, with innovations that will make life easier for Trainers. However, despite the entirely urban setting, the game will maintain Wild Zones, open areas where Pokémon live without the presence of Trainers.
The capture system will be similar to that of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Some monsters can be captured simply by throwing a Poké Ball at the right time, while others will require battles before capture.
Initials revealed and absence of Cyndaquil generates debate
Trainers will be able to choose between three starter Pokémon from different generations: Chikorita and Totodile from the second generation, and Tepig from the fifth. The absence of Cyndaquil, which appeared in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, has generated mixed reactions among fans, who are already discussing the choice on social media.
In addition to the starters, the trailer showcased several iconic species, such as Flareon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flaaffy, and Lucario, indicating that the Pokémon roster will be broad and diverse.
Mega Evolutions are back after years of absence in Pokémon Legends ZA
One of the biggest surprises of the trailer was the confirmation of the return of Mega Evolutions, a mechanic introduced in Pokémon X and Y but absent from the main games in the franchise in recent years. The system will allow select Pokémon to temporarily reach a new power level.
The video showed mega evolutions of Charizard, Lucario, Gardevoir, and Ampharos, rekindling player enthusiasm. However, it's still unclear whether new mega evolutions will be added or if the game will only feature the existing ones.
Real-time combat system and possible Switch 2 version
Unlike traditional turn-based combat, Pokémon Legends ZA will adopt a real-time system, in which Pokémon move freely around the field. Attacks will have specific ranges, making positioning strategy crucial to avoid attacks and seize offensive opportunities.
This dynamic approach adds a new level of complexity to battles and promises to make them more immersive. In addition to duels against wild Pokémon, the game will also allow you to face other trainers.
Scheduled for release at the end of 2025, there is still no confirmation whether the title will receive an optimized version for the long-awaited Switch 2. However, Nintendo should reveal more details about its new console in a broadcast scheduled for April, which may bring news about a possible graphical and performance improvement for Pokémon Legends ZA.
