The Pokemon franchise is known for breaking new ground with each new release, but the recently announced Pokemon Legends: Z-A seems to be taking one of the biggest risks yet by confining the entire game to a single city.
During the February 27th Pokemon Presents livestream, The Pokemon Company pulled back the curtain on the next entry in the Pokemon Legends spinoff series. Pokemon Legends: Z-A will bring players to Lumiose City, the sprawling metropolis introduced in Pokemon X & Y. But unlike past games that gave fans whole regions to explore, Z-A will allegedly take place entirely within the city limits.
Watch to see the reveal trailer for #PokemonLegendsZA, a new adventure set entirely within Lumiose City, coming to #NintendoSwitch in 2025. https://t.co/HHIlcwKvno
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 27, 2024
The announcement, made on X by Nintendo of America after the livestream, was met with some skepticism by fans:
Reactions ranged from surprised questions like “Entirely?” to outright disappointment over less area to explore compared to previous entries.
However, limiting the setting to Lumiose could allow Game Freak opportunities that might not be possible in a full region. The city’s bright, futuristic look could lend itself well to a cyberpunk theme, with man-made bio-domes or underground layers expanding playable areas.
And while no core series Pokemon title has attempted a single-city setting before, it does follow in the footsteps of big-name open-world games like Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series and Batman: Arkham City. Like these games, players will be let loose in a living, breathing city packed with possibilities. Exactly how this GTA template will merge with traditional Pokemon gameplay remains unclear.
Fans will have to wait for more details to find out whether the controversial decision pays off. But Game Freak is no stranger to scrutiny, even over-hit games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus which faced doubts pre-launch.
For now, intriguing concepts like a rebuilt Lumiose, returning Mega Evolutions, and hints at a potential time travel element could be enough to get fans on board when Pokemon Legends: Z-A launches in 2025. And if it takes risks that resonate with players, it likely won’t be the last Pokemon Legends entry shaking things up.