"Pokémon Legends: Z-A Release Date Revealed, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Pokémon Presents in July"

The Pokémon Company has officially revealed the release date for the much-anticipated Pokémon Legends: Z-A and its enhanced version, Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: October 16, 2025. Preorders for both editions will begin on June 5, 2025, giving fans the chance to secure their copy ahead of launch.

A new Pokémon Presents presentation is scheduled for July 22, 2025, promising the latest news and updates from the Pokémon world. This highly anticipated showcase is expected to feature deeper insights into Pokémon Legends: Z-A, including gameplay reveals, story details, and more.

In celebration of the upcoming release, The Pokémon Company has launched a wave of Mega Evolution-themed merchandise, now available through the Pokémon Center. Fans can collect giant pins of Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y, as well as shop a capsule collection of apparel and accessories featuring fan-favorite Mega-Evolved Pokémon like Mega Venusaur, Mega Gengar, and Mega Lucario, with more products rolling out throughout the year.

Players who purchase either the physical or digital version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Nintendo Switch will have the option to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for $10 via the Nintendo eShop or My Nintendo Store. The upgraded edition delivers enhanced graphics, smoother framerates, and optimized performance, offering a more immersive experience on the next-gen console.

The official cover art has been unveiled, showcasing the game’s protagonist and their partner Pokémon in an intense nighttime battle against a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in the heart of Lumiose City. The artwork captures the game’s dynamic tone and urban setting, hinting at the high-octane action to come.

Here’s the official description:

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a bold new chapter in the Pokémon series, combining a rich RPG narrative set entirely within a single city with fast-paced action and a real-time battle system that redefines how Pokémon battles feel. Trainers are invited to embark on a thrilling adventure in Lumiose City — a story shaped by the bond between people and Pokémon.

Switch 2 Edition box art for Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Standard Nintendo Switch version box art.

Starting next month, fans who preorder Pokémon Legends: Z-A at the Pokémon Center in the U.S., Canada, or U.K. will receive a random Pokémon Sitting Cuties plush as a gift with purchase. Each plush features one of three beloved starters: Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A was first announced during last year’s Pokémon Presents, with a cinematic trailer offering a glimpse of a futuristic, neon-lit Lumiose City. At the time, details were scarce — only confirming a 2025 release on Nintendo Switch. Since then, a follow-up Pokémon Direct provided a deeper look at the game, revealing a variety of Pokémon, new characters, and gameplay footage of the protagonist dashing across rooftops in a fast-paced, urban adventure.

With its innovative real-time combat, deep storytelling, and nostalgic nods to fan-favorite elements like Mega Evolution, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is shaping up to be one of the most exciting entries in the franchise’s history.