Nintendo Announced Pokémon Legends: Z-A Release Date and Switch 2 Upgrades

Pokémon Legends Z-A officially releases on Oct. 16, 2025. The release date was announced by the official Pokémon social media account. According to the post, the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Pokémon Legends Z-A will have improved graphics and frame rates, and the game will launch on both iterations of the Switch. The exact frame rates supported have not been revealed. 

In a teaser presented by the official Pokémon X page, Nintendo revealed that Pokémon Z-A will have real-time combat instead of the traditional turn-based combat. Players will be able to command their Pokémon to “unleash their moves” on demand. 

The teaser showcases Totodile dodging Tepig’s rollout, a dodge influenced by the trainer’s initial movement. Totodile appears to be following alongside the trainer, who allows it to dodge the attack. This mechanic appears to rely heavily on positioning, rewarding smart positioning during a fight. 

Pokémon Legends Z-A takes inspiration from Pokémon Legends Arceus, a critically acclaimed Pokémon adventure that released on Jan. 28, 2022. The game mixes turn-based combat with open-world action mechanics, thereby helping distinguish the title from the other entries in the series.