Summary
Many fans expectedPokemonGen 10 to come out in 2025 due to Game Freak’s typical 3-year development cycle for mainline games, but no news came regarding this title just yet, and leaks make it a 2026 release, meaning thatPokemon Legends: Z-Awill be the only big launch for the franchise this year. RecentPokemon Legends: Z-Aleaks about Mega Evolutions claim that the game will have several new forms for existing critters, but no new Pokemon or regional forms at all. Today, The Pokemon Company officially announcedPokemon Legends: Z-A’s release date is October 16, and price leaks immediately followed.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 coming out in just over one week, discussions regarding the prices of games for the new console have very much not subsided, asMario Kart Worldis set to cost a whopping $79.99 without the launch bundle. The game will be available at this price in both its digital and physical versions, though it’s confirmed that physical games will mostly consist of cartridges with digital keys, with a surcharge of $10 in most cases. Now, notoriousPokemonleak aggregator Centro Leaks, took to Twitter to divulge the prices ofPokemon Legends: Z-A, and if correct, this is bound to reignite the price discourse for the Switch 2.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Switch 2 Price is Another Controversy Waiting to Happen
Many fans were not happy withMario Kart World’s price of $80, to the point that an avalanche of comments saying “Drop the prices” started appearing on Nintendo livestreams and under YouTube videos dedicated to this specific game or the Nintendo Switch 2 in general.Pokemongames have consistently been priced at $60 for many years now, and this will apparently still be the case forPokemon Legends: Z-Aon the Switch. However, its digital version on the Switch 2 is allegedly going to cost $69.99, with a possible surcharge of $10 for the physical version.
It’s worth noting that theSwitch version of Pokemon Legends: Z-Ais upgradeable to the Switch 2 for a surcharge of $10.
This is the Nintendo Switch 2 price controversy all over again, with the console costing more than many fans expected, and games suddenly spiking in price. The situation remains murky because there seems to be a discrepancy between the digital and physical versions of games in the United States compared to Europe, for example, where a physical copy ofMario Kart Worldis set to cost €90, which is much more than the $80 pricetag in the US. This remains to be seen for now, but ifMario Kart World’s prices are used for allSwitch 2 games, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities thatPokemon Legends: Z-Awill cost €80 or €90 in Europe, and around $80 in the US.
If a physical copy ofPokemon Legends: Z-Aends up costing $80, then it’s going to be $20 more expensive thanPokemon Legends: ArceusandPokemon Scarlet and Violet, which is a massive increase. Even if Centro Leaks' suggested prices are confirmed, a digital copy ofPokemon Legends: Z-Ais going to cost $10 more than past games, at least for Switch 2. The cost increase is allegedly due to the 4K image quality of Switch 2 games, as well as increased performance. This is also confirmed onPokemon Legends: Z-A’s page on the Nintendo store, indicating that it’s indeed possible this will be the outcome.
Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s Price May Not Matter, In The End
It’s highly unlikely forPokemon Legends: Z-Ato flop, though, as the game is surrounded by huge hype considering thereturn of Mega Evolutions, which are single-handedly the most popular battle gimmick in the series. As such, this is possibly just the firstPokemongame to have a pricetag of $70 (if not $80), but this trend may very well not stop there. It remains to be seen what the reception of the game in terms of sales will be, but since it’s not a Switch 2 exclusive, it will likely sell well across the board.
