GameFreak have confirmed that Pokémon Legends Z-A will release on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 in the UK and worldwide on October 16, 2025.
It has been more than a year since the last major Pokémon release. Combine that with the imminent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and you have the community’s excitement at an all-time high.
The Legends ZA will immediately become a flagship title for the new console, which releases in the UK on June 5th, alongside Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza.
Pokémon Legends Z-A’s Nintendo Switch 2 version will offer improved graphics and frame rates, something that plagued Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
And for those waiting to get a Switch 2 at a later date, they will be able to upgrade the game by purchasing a Switch 2 upgrade pack.
So far, these have typically cost either £7.99 or £16.99, depending on the differences between the two versions. The Legends Z-A upgrade only offers better performance, not any new features, so it should cost £7.99.
The game will come out almost four years after its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which was a massive success having sold almost 15 million copies by March 31st, 2023.
Despite the release date being confirmed, Pokémon Legends Z-A pre-orders have still not opened, though fans can register their interest in doing so on the Nintendo Store.
And in addition to the release, the Pokémon Company has also unveiled the official cover art for Legends Z-A which features the new protagonists, starters Tepig, Totodile, and Chikorita, and a couple of mega evolutions in Lucario and Scizor.
Pokémon Presents with new Legends Z-A details announced for late July
It looks like we will have to wait a couple of months for a new Legends Z-A trailer or more information on the game as the next Pokémon Presents livestream has been confirmed for July 22nd, 2025.
Most players will be hoping for new Pokémon forms to be confirmed or at least teased as GameFreak has still not unveiled any new mega evolutions coming to Z-A.
There hasn’t even been confirmation that there will be new mega evolutions, but it feels extremely likely we’ll at least get new versions of the starter’s final evolutions, perhaps even Mega Meganium like Legends Arceus gave us Hisuian Decidueye.
Nothing has been confirmed for the live stream event from Nintendo, though it times perfectly with the release of a new ranked update coming to Pokémon TCG Pocket.
It could also be where we hear the first information on the next mainline Pokémon game, which will be the franchise’s 10th generation.
Until then, to experience Pokémon Legends Z-A in the best way possible, its best to prepare yourself in figuring out how to get a Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK.
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