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Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an upcoming installment in the mainline Pokémon series, and the second entry in the Legends sub-series following Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It is scheduled to release in 2025 for the Nintendo Switch.
Similarly to Arceus, the title serves as a side story to other mainline entries, this time taking place during the urban redevelopment of Lumiose City in the Kalos Region with the involvement of a company apparently named Quasar. However, unlike Arceus, the setting is far more urban in nature and Pokémon have already established bonds with humans. The time period in which the game is set is also currently ambiguous, with the characters depicted notably having relatively modern clothing; the nature of the Lumiose redevelopment effort could be analogous to efforts made between 1853-1870 or during the 1960s in Paris, though the trailer also features futuristic imagery.
Trailers: Announcement Trailer
Tropes associated with Pokémon Legends: Z-A:
- Alternate Character Reading: In Japanese, the title has furigana to help readers pronounce it. It's pronounced "zed-ei".
- Breaking Old Trends: Unlike previous main series games, which take place across an entire region, this game takes place entirely within Lumiose City.
- The Bus Came Back: Mega Evolution returns after being absent from the main series since Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
- City of Adventure: The entire game takes place in Lumiose City.
- Contrasting Sequel Setting: While Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place in rural Hisui with very little urban development, Pokémon Legends: Z-A appears to take place in a more urbanised environment of Lumiose City.
- Production Foreshadowing: In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:
- The Kalos legendaries (Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde) are mysteriously absent from the game's code, hinting that they would play a role in a future installment.
- Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant resemble Mega Salamence and Mega Gardevoir & Gallade, respectively, with one of Roaring Moon's Pokédex entries mentioning Mega Evolution in all but name.
