Overview

• Legends: Z-A swaps turn-based encounters for free-form real-time combat where trainers and Pokémon move, dodge and execute attacks on individual cooldowns.
• Mega Evolution returns via a new system in which damaging opponents drops Mega Energy orbs that players must collect to fill a gauge and trigger transformations.
• Gameplay is confined to modern Lumiose City, with players focusing on catching wild Pokémon during daylight and battling trainers in the Z-A Royale tournament at night.
• Held items and consumables make a comeback but operate on cooldown timers, and both wild and trainer Pokémon attacks can harm the player’s avatar.
• Early demos ran at an estimated 60 fps on Switch 2 and the game remains on track for its October 16, 2025 release, though questions persist about open-city scope and performance on legacy Switch hardware.