Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be the latest installment in the monster-catching franchise, releasing sometime in 2025.
The Pokémon Legends: Z-A announcement was made during the Pokémon Presents event on February 27, 2024.
Key details have already been revealed through the numerous trailers shared by Nintendo, which we will cover to best prepare you ahead of the expected Pokémon Legends: Z-A release date.
Key Takeaways
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be released sometime in 2025, possibly August 15, but this is unconfirmed.
- The game will primarily take place in Lumiose City, located within the Kalos region.
- It is expected to share many similarities with Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
- The game will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
- Pokémon have been confirmed or are expected to appear based on the reveal trailer.
- Show Full Guide
What Is Pokémon Legends: Z-A?
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the latest main game installment in the nearly 30-year-old franchise, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. It is the second title in the Legend series and the 13th addition to the main series.
Its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, marked a departure from the traditional formula the series had followed for so long. It expanded the main gameplay experience to feature more open-world action RPG elements, which was a welcomed change of pace for many. Players celebrated being able to capture and fight Pokémon in real-time, a mechanic many fans hope will make a return in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Despite the mixed reception towards last year’s Scarlet & Violet, there is a lot of optimism surrounding the Pokémon Legends: Z-A announcement. A rich and content-full Lumiose City, mega evolution making a return, and a series of (hopefully) new regional forms to see.
Expected Pokémon Legends: Z-A Release Date
The potential Pokémon Legends: Z-A release date has leaked online in the last few days, suggesting August 15, 2025, is when it will come out.
The leak originated from Amazon UK, as shown in the X post below. It could be an honest mistake that reveals nothing, but as the post explains, the default release date when it is still TBC is December 31, so it’s hard to see how August 15 could be added purely accidentally.
The plot thickens somewhat when we factor in that the game’s product listing on Amazon Italy was removed around the same time. This could mean that Amazon is prepping pages for pre-orders in anticipation of a release date announcement.
Working against that is the assumption that an official release date confirmation was not expected until the 2025 Pokémon Day Pokémon Presents broadcast, which is thought to be taking place on February 27. The game was officially announced during the same event last year, so it stands to reason that Nintendo would choose it to announce the release date. If that is the case, perhaps Amazon is simply well ahead of schedule in preparing its pre-order pages.
Probably is an error but Amazon is saying that the release of PLZA will be on Friday, 15 August 2025, some users are reporting this on UK Amazon accounts.
As per default should say 31 December 2025 if the game has no date release. pic.twitter.com/3eIJq7ChRz— Light (@Light_88_) January 8, 2025
The final consideration is that the August 15 date is not the most obvious date for Nintendo to choose. Fans online have made the point that Pokémon games don’t typically get released in August. The counterpoint to this is that the previous game Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released in January, which was no more typical than an August release.
We will keep our ear to the ground for any leaks surfacing before Nintendo’s next event, but we may need to wait for that to provide any firm answers.
Expected Pokémon Legends: Z-A Pre-Orders
Pokémon Legends: Z-A pre-orders are not currently available. However, we can estimate when they will be live and what is potentially included for those who catch the game early.
Pre-orders typically become available eight to nine months before a game’s release. Pokémon Legends: Arceus made pre-orders available from May 26, 2021, eight months before its release. The more recent Pokémon Scarlet & Violet games made pre-orders available on February 27, 2022, nine months before the official launch.
Following that logic, if the game was set for an August 2025 release, pre-orders would be expected shortly.
What will be included in the pre-orders has not been shared, but we can surmise a guess based on what we have received in the past. These pre-orders often include exclusive in-game content, physical items, or other bonuses for those who place an order ahead of the release.
For Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, pre-order bonuses included unique in-game items like an exclusive Pikachu with a unique Tera Type and early-access items like potions and Poké Balls. Pokémon Legends: Arceus pre-orders provided players with special in-game outfits like the Hisuian Growlithe Kimono set and extra resources like Heavy Balls.
Pre-orders will sometimes also include collectible items, such as steelbook cases, keychains, plushes, and art cards. For example, Sword & Shield pre-orders at certain retailers included figurines or exclusive cases
However, it is worth noting that some sites are letting you place a purchase for pre-orders right now, such as Amazon and Argos in the UK. We believe the dates stated in these are placeholders and have not been confirmed by Nintendo. We would advise extreme caution in these cases and recommend holding off from placing orders until official Pokémon Legends: Z-A news is released by Nintendo, GameFreak, or The Pokémon Company.
We would instead recommend signing up for the newsletter through the official site or following their socials to be notified as soon as new information is revealed.
Expected Pokémon Legends: Z-A Price
Pokemon Legends Z-A price has not yet been confirmed, though as mentioned previously, some sites are offering the chance to purchase the game right now at $59.99. This falls in line with most main series games, and it does appear as though this game isn’t being treated as a spin-off title.
It is unlikely for the game to see higher tier versions for purchase, such as a deluxe or premium edition. Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released with only a standard version at $59.99 and didn’t include an alternate version like most main games do. However, it is still possible for Pokémon Legends: Z-A to take a different approach.
Expected Pokémon Legends: Z-A Platforms
Pokémon Legends: Z-A platforms are likely to include the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED. This is to be expected, as the majority of mainline Pokémon games rarely ever branch out from Nintendo platforms.
It may also be possible that the game will eventually come to the Nintendo Switch 2. Perhaps it will take on the role of a launch title, much like how The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was available the same day as the Nintendo Switch. This is pure speculation on our part and is yet to be confirmed.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Trailers
Only one trailer has been released so far, revealing the general premise of the game. The Pokémon Legends: Z-A trailer was revealed during the Pokémon Presents event on February 27, 2024.
We can see in the trailer itself a structure similar to the real-life Eiffel Tower in Paris, which is how we know that the game will take place in Kalos. Where exactly in history this game takes place is unknown; some fans theorize it will be in the distant past, like Pokémon Legends: Arceus, whilst others believe it takes place after the events of Pokémon X & Y.
It also offers a sneak preview of the map the game takes place in, Lumiose City, which appears to be undergoing an “urban redevelopment plan.” This is a major departure from previous games and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which have traditionally allowed players to explore various zones in a region.
We also see various silhouettes of Pokémon that are expected to be included in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Pokédex, such as Fletchling, Aegislash, and, of course, Pikachu.
The full reveal trailer announces a 2025 worldwide release.
Latest Pokémon Legends: Z-A News
Pokémon across different generations have been spotted in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A announcement trailer, though a full Pokédex list has yet to be released. Fans can enjoy a variety of different types from previous generations of Pokémon, from Kanto to Unova.
At the end of the Pokémon Legends: Z-A reveal trailer, the insignia shown reveals that mega evolution will make a return. First introduced in Pokémon X & Y, mega evolution allows players to temporarily evolve certain Pokémon in battle, resulting in a changed appearance and a general increase in stats. Only one Pokémon in the party can use mega evolution and must hold a compatible mega stone.
The latest Pokémon Legends: Z-A news surrounds online leaks revealing the three potential starter Pokémon.
A tweet made by @Riddler_Khu suggested that the starter Pokémon would be coming from gen three, five, and eight. Though this has not been confirmed, the user has a more proven track record that makes this statement more believable than other supposed ‘leaks’ online.
This lineup shares similarities with the previous Pokémon Legends: Arceus game, which featured three starter Pokémon outside of the region in which it took place. Legends: Arceus included Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet. Each of these Pokémon also had a regional form, which we may see repeated in the new game.
We could potentially see a starter from Hoenn, Unova, and Galar
- Hoenn starters include Treecko, Mudkip, and Torchic.
- Unova starters include Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig.
- Galar starters include Grookey, Sobble, and Scorbunny.
Since the Pokédex typically lists each region’s Pokémon in order of grass, fire, and water, many fans have speculated that we will see Treecko, Tepig, and Sobble in Legends: Z-A. However, this is still speculation at best and has yet to be confirmed.
The Bottom Line
Pokémon Legends: Z-A release date is sometime in 2025, bringing players across the world to Lumiose City in Kalos. With the return of mega evolutions, there’s a lot to be excited about this time around!
Though details are few and far between, we do know that the game will be coming to Nintendo Switch and is likely to cost $59.99 at launch. Though there are thrilling details circling around, we recommend waiting until more official information is revealed before going out to catch your copy.
FAQs
What does the Z-A stand for in Pokémon Legends?
Is Pokémon Legends Z-A a remake?
Is Pokémon Legends set in the past or future?
What console will Pokémon Legends be on?
When is Pokémon Legends Z-A coming out?
Who is developing Pokémon Legends Z-A?
References
- Pokémon Legends Z-A Nintendo Switch (Amazon)
- Pokemon Legends Z-A Nintendo Switch Game Pre-Order (Argos)
- Announcement | Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Legends.pokemon)
- Khu Beating Around The Bush on X (X)
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases simultaneously worldwide in 2025! (YouTube)
- Light on X (X)