Nintendo has confirmed that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will launch this October, shortly after the Switch 2 is released.
- READ MORE: Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth your money?
Pokémon Legends: Z-A was announced last year with a vague 2025 release window. Now Nintendo has confirmed the game will launch on October 16, 2026.
According to the official description, “Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a new frontier for the Pokémon video game series, blending an RPG story unfolding in a single city with action elements and a real-time battle system unlike anything seen before in the franchise. Trainers can look forward to the beginning of a new adventure in Lumiose City—one woven by people and Pokémon together!”
The game takes place in the Paris-inspired city of Lumiose, which was first introduced in 2013’s X & Y. The game will also see the return of the mega-evolutions mechanic for the first time since 2014’s Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
#PokemonLegendsZA arrives October 16, 2025!
In addition to the #NintendoSwitch title, a #NintendoSwitch2 Edition will offer improved graphics and frame rates! The digital and physical versions of #PokemonLegendsZA can be upgraded to the #NintendoSwitch2 Edition via upgrade pack pic.twitter.com/DqAcfYPxiK
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) May 28, 2025
Pre-orders for Pokémon Legends: Z-A will go live next week (June 5) with a Switch 2 upgrade also available. The upgrade will make use of the bigger, more powerful Nintendo console which also launches June 5.
Trainers who preorder Legends: Z-A at Pokémon Center in the U.S., Canada or the U.K. will be able to receive a random Pokémon Sitting Cuties plush featuring Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile as a free gift.
Nintendo has also confirmed a special Pokemon Presents showcase will be broadcast on July 22 with fans able to watch via the official Pokémon YouTube channel.
Next year is the 30th anniversary of Pokémon and earlier this year, boss Tsunekazu Ishihara revealed his plans for the long-running series of games, television shows, movies and trading cards to continue for the next 70 years.
“[Our main goal is] to enrich both the real world and the virtual world,” he explained in an interview with the BBC. “If we continue focusing on our mission, Pokémon can probably continue to its 50th or 100th anniversary. But if we become complacent and go with the flow, that’s when it will go downhill.”
Nintendo has yet to announce a sequel to 2022’s Scarlet & Violet but has confirmed new multiplayer title Champions is currently in development.
In other news, Elden Ring fans have their doubts about the newly-confirmed movie adaptation, which will be written and directed by Alex Garland.
The post ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A’ will release this October appeared first on NME.