Key Takeaways
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A may not arrive until second half of 2025, based on new TCG trademarks.
- Fans eagerly anticipate the return of Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
- Potential delay could allow for bug fixes, ensuring smooth gameplay upon release.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A may arrive later in 2025 than most players would expect or hope for. New information regarding Pokemon TCG may have signaled that Pokemon Legends: Z-A won't arrive early in the year.
Pokemon fans are more than excited to learn more about Pokemon Legends: Z-A. The game will be the second in the Pokemon Legends sub-series thus far, and promises to bring back Mega Evolutions, which many players have missed since they disappeared after Pokemon's seventh generation of games. With only a vague 2025 release window offered thus far by Nintendo and Game Freak, Pokemon fans have been eager to know more specifics.
Now, a trademark discovery by PokeBeach indicates that Pokemon Legends: Z-A could be arriving in the second half of 2025. Trademarks have been filed for what look to be Pokemon TCG expansions, titled Black Bolt, White Flare, and Heat Wave Arena. Black Bolt and White Flare appear to reference Reshiram and Zekrom, which could tie into a Reshiram Pokemon TCG card that was recently revealed during the 2024 Pokemon World Championships. Heat Wave is a little more unclear, but likely references a Pokemon that knows the move, like Volcarona.
Why are These Pokemon TCG Trademarks Relevant?
PokeBeach estimates, based on prior trademark title discoveries, that there will be anywhere from six to eight months between now and the trademarked expansions releasing. That would put the latest launch somewhere around May or June. As these sets aren't connected to Kalos, it's doubtful that they would be premiering around the same time as Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which is set there. Further, there haven't been any Pokemon TCG trademark discoveries that appear to be connected to the new game yet. As most fans know, Pokemon TCG releases sets of cards based off of core entries to the series, typically with them launching shortly after the video games. With all these pieces taken into consideration, Pokemon Legends: Z-A launching no earlier than June 2025 seems likely.
While a longer wait than expected might disappoint some fans, others may be okay with it. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was riddled with critical issues that made the game unplayable for some until it was patched. Fans won't want to see these problems happening again, which may mean waiting a bit longer to smooth out any bugs and fully optimize the game for the Nintendo Switch. If it means that Pokemon Legends: Z-A plays well on arrival, chances are most fans will be willing to wait.
Franchise Pokemon Platform(s) Switch Released 2025-00-00 Developer(s) Game Freak Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Proprietary Engine ESRB e Expand
