Pokémon followers could need to tread rigorously proper now, and never simply because Pokémon Legends: Z-A has leaked days forward of launch. It appears that evidently Recreation Freak could have suffered a a lot larger leak than a single recreation, based mostly on materials that’s at present circulating on the web. The content material, which purportedly shares a timeline for the subsequent handful of Pokémon video games, reveals what might be coming subsequent for the tenth technology of mainline Pokémon video games. Is any of it credible, although? There are causes to imagine the leaks are legit, and causes to be skeptical.
We all know that Recreation Freak did actually endure a significant breach of data again in 2024 for which Nintendo filed a subpoena earlier this yr, within the hopes of catching whoever was behind the leak. The leak, which followers discuss with as “teraleak,” contained a surprising quantity of data not nearly instant video games like Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but additionally a trove of supplies that had been by no means meant for public consumption. These included idea artwork and growth documentation for brand spanking new and outdated Pokémon video games alike. On the time, the leaker recommended that they didn’t share the whole lot they acquired on Recreation Freak, just like the supply code for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. This is able to suggest that extra info might doubtlessly leak sooner or later.
Quick-forward to now, and leak accounts on social media are as soon as once more disseminating a bewildering quantity of Pokémon content material that supposedly originates from the identical supply. Furthermore, these are leak accounts which have a confirmed observe report with Pokémon leaks prior to now, like when Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s Mega Evolutions had been posted on the web months forward of schedule. Whether or not the fabric really comes from the identical leaker is unclear, particularly if the individuals concerned is perhaps in the course of, or about to be in, a authorized battle with Nintendo. Nintendo didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
One more reason the leak appears credible is the quantity and high quality of the supplies floating round. The leaks embody dozens of pages of obvious proposal paperwork for Pokémon Sword and Defend, idea artwork, and beta footage of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. A few of this materials is the form of factor generative AI might ostensibly create, provided that Pokémon video games have a selected artwork type that might be emulated. However issues like hand-drawn maps or unpolished gameplay footage appear considerably more durable to tug off, given their imperfect nature.
The fabric can be granular in a method that doesn’t look curated. It is simple to imagine somebody is perhaps motivated to trick individuals into believing they have the within observe on the subsequent mainline Pokémon recreation. It isn’t fairly as possible that somebody would spend time placing collectively a group of boring graphs and Excel sheets. Not not possible, however unlikely.
With all of this mentioned, what are leakers really saying concerning the subsequent mainline Pokémon video games? Based on leaked paperwork, the idea for the subsequent huge Pokémon video games are Pokémon Wind and Waves, they usually’re aimed for launch in 2026. The set of video games will reportedly function procedurally generated islands which might be loosely based mostly on Indonesia and southeast Asia. Not like most main Pokémon video games, Wind and Waves will supposedly start in a giant metropolis relatively than a small city. The video games are mentioned to have extra of a survival bent than earlier titles, together with the flexibility to discover jungle and underwater areas. Particular focus will probably be positioned on climate parts, which will even be the theme behind the upcoming legendaries. There will probably be a brand new kind of creature referred to as “seed” Pokémon, however specifics relating to their perform are at present being debated. The leaks even declare to stipulate what followers can count on when it comes to rivals and enemy organizations. Get this: The baddie this time is supposedly going to be concerned with land growth, which runs counter to the untamed environments that Wind and Wave will supposedly permit gamers to discover.
Whereas a few of these concepts border on fantasy — can Recreation Freak really pull off a recreation that might generate new areas infinitely when Scarlet and Violet barely dealt with open-world environments? — a number of the particulars make sense on paper. It sounds plausible that the latest Pokémon video games will see Recreation Freak exploring no matter was fashionable years in the past — on this case, survival video games, open-world environments, and procedural technology. It is also price noting that Sword and Defend had been partially restricted by the facility of the unique Change. Any future video games won’t be cross-platform, which might ostensibly release Recreation Freak to pursue extra technically demanding gameplay ideas.
The opposite enormous asterisk price contemplating right here is, even when all of what is floating round is true, recreation growth scarcely goes as deliberate. 5 years is a very long time from now. Concepts might change down the road or be scrapped solely. To wit: The beta footage of Pokémon Legends: Z-A reveals purported gameplay mechanics that nearly actually aren’t within the remaining recreation, like third-person capturing mechanics and parkour. Each of those mechanics sound like they pertain to completely completely different video games than the one Pokémon Legends: Z-A turned out to be, based on previews and its pre-release advertising.
Past the mainline video games, leaks assert that they have the whole thing of The Pokémon Firm’s subsequent 5 years mapped out. For instance, the subsequent few years will embody a tantalizing recreation that can embody a number of areas from earlier video games, which the participant will be capable to discover seamlessly.
The factor is, leaks do not at all times pan out. Earlier this yr, the rumor going round was that the tenth technology of Pokémon video games had been imagined to be set in Greece. Now those self same sources are saying one thing else solely. What’s completely different this time round is that there is far more circumstantial proof that makes the claims sound believable. And the small print are weirdly particular, like footage of water wave simulations and unfinished terrain.
However till Recreation Freak broadcasts it? Take something you see relating to Pokémon with a grain of salt.
Correction: An earlier model of this text misstated which yr the leaks declare Wind and Waves will probably be launched in.
