Pokemon Presents LIVE: Everything announced as Legends Z-A shown for first time

Pokemon Legends Z-A announcements reaction

Redditors have been reacting to the new announcements on Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

mewfour123412 said: "Placing my bet: the CEO will be evil."

SignalRelease4562 said: "I'm surprised that two Johto Starters, Chikorita and Totodile, are the starters for Z-A and only one Unova starter Tepig."

lilboytuner919 said: "Not even mad. Don't rush it, do it right."

Blubbpaule said: "I loved Legends: Arceus. I really hoped they pushed the game for Switch 2. Because once again it looks... Just not good. I like the new designed combat system, wish we had this for more games. But I'm very unsure if I like the overall design of a Pokemon game almost entirely in a city - for me Pokemon was always about the wilderness and wild areas you'll find them in."

Seburon said: "I actually think it looks great. Also, the stream I was watching seemed to have steady frame rate, I thought it looked amazing."

Reaction to come

Keep it locked as although the Pokemon Presents event has concluded, there will be reaction to come.

Pokemon Champions announcement trailer

The announcement video for Pokemon Champions that's in development for Nintendo Switch and mobile.

Pokemon Legends Z-A video

The video shared by Pokemon about the update to Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Pokemon Legends Z-A: Key features

Here's a rundown of all of the key features that were revealed at the end of the Pokemon Presents event showing a very first look at the gameplay and a detailed look at the world of Pokemon Legends: Z-A:

• The game is set in Lumiose City in the Kalos region which is being redeveloped in the game.
  
• One of three starter Pokemon can be chosen and these are Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile.
  
• Real time battles were shown where players can move their Pokemon across the battlefield, dodge attacks and strategically attack themselves when an opening arrives with different moves acting out in real time. Attacks can have a longer or shorter reach and different areas of effect. This is a big move away from the traditional turn-based combat system of Pokemon games.
  
• There are 'wild zones' in the city where wild Pokemon can be found, caught and battled. To catch them, players have to aim carefully like in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. They can be weakened by the player's captured Pokemon.
  
• Mega Evolution will be available for some Pokemon.
  
• It seems as though there are parkour mechanics as players can run across rooftops and jump across from building to building.
  
• A new friend or ally called Urbain or Taunie (depending on which appearance the player chooses) will accompany the player.
  
• The hotel where players stay will be run by a character called AZ.
  
• Lumiose City's redevelopment is being managed by Quasartico Inc and players will become "acquainted with" CEO Jett and secretary Vinnie.
  
• The game will release in late 2025.

Key announcements

We'll come to Pokemon Legends: Z-A in a moment, but in terms of other news, here is everything else that was announced:

• A brand new game called Pokemon Champions is being developed for the Nintendo Switch and mobile. It seems to be like a new Pokemon Stadium game. Pokemon HOME can be connected so players can play with their favourite Pokemon.
  
• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have a number of new features including a Rotom phone case, a mass outbreak event and other in-game events to come, three upcoming Tera Raid battle events with more Pokemon to appear in the future.
  
• Pokemon TCG Pocket is getting a new booster pack called Triumphant Light that's being fronted by Arceus and will be available tomorrow (28 February).
• Pokemon Go Tour - Unova: Global is on March 1 and 2. Legendary Pokemon Black Kyurem and White Kyurem will appear in Raid battles and elsewhere. A new season starts on March 4.
• Mega Evolutions are coming to Pokemon TCG with Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex cards shown.
  
• Pokemon Masters Ex is getting two new master sync pairs in May and Kyogre, and Brendan and Groudon.
  
• Pokemon Unite is adding Suicune, Raichu and Alcremie in 2025. Remoat Stadium is back too. There's also a new battle called First to 500.
• Pokemon Cafe Remix is getting new outfits and outfits.
• New episodes of Pokemon Concierge are coming to Netflix in September.
  
• Cresselia and Darkrai are both coming to Pokemon Sleep soon.

Pokemon Presents event concludes

The Pokemon Presents event has now finished but stay tuned for reaction and a recap of the most key points, especially around Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

The final announcement.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A gameplay has been shown for the very first time.

It shows Pokemon and characters living together in Lumiose City in the Kalos region. It's undergoing a redevelopment plan and when players arrive, one of three Pokemon can be chosen in Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile.

Players will meet a new friend or ally and will be staying at a new hotel being run by a character named AZ.

There are 'wild zones' in the city where wild Pokemon can thrive. To catch them, players have to aim carefully like in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

They can be weakened by the player's captured Pokemon.

Players can move their Pokemon during battles including dodging incoming attacks and positioning their Pokemon strategically. Mega Evolution is available for some Pokemon too.

The game is releasing late 2025.

Pokemon Champions 

A trailer showing Pokemon trainers connecting and playing Pokemon Stadium games on various consoles the games have featured on over the years has been shown.

It shows off a brief look at a brand new title called Pokemon Champions and it looks like a new Pokemon Stadium kind of game.

Players can battle other players around the world. Developer Game Freak is working on it with development being handled by The Pokemon Works.

It can connect with Pokemon HOME with Pokemon transferred from Pokemon Go and between Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

It's in development for Nintendo Switch and mobile.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet update

In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, players can redeem a Rotom phone case, there's a mass outbreak event and other in-game events to come, three upcoming Tera Raid battle events with more Pokemon to appear in the future.

Pokemon TCG Pocket new pack confirmed

As previously leaked, the new Pokemon TCG Pocket pack stars Arceus and is called Triumphant Light.

It's available on February 28.

There have also been updates on Pokemon Go ahead of the latest event on March 1 and 2 that's already been publicised, Pokemon Cafe Remix and Pokemon Sleep.

Mega Evolution is coming to Pokemon TCG.

Pokemon Concierge

Tsunekaza Ishihara, president of The Pokemon Company, in opening remarks has teased there is a number of new releases coming out.

There is a Netflix series called Pokemon Concierge. The story follows Haru, who is finding her feet as a concierge alongside Psyduck.

It's stop motion animation. A new season is in production and slated for release in September.

Episodes 1-4 are free to watch now on Pokemon's YouTube channel.

Pokemon Present 2025 is underway

Here we go! Let's see what's announced in the world of Pokemon...

Five minutes to go! 

Here we go Pokemon fans - the Pokemon Presents event is just five minutes away.

Keep it locked with this live blog for all the latest as it happens.

30 minutes to go - how to watch Pokemon Presents

The Pokemon Presents livestream starts at 2pm GMT / 9am PT / 6am ET.

It can be watched via the video above, which is on Pokemon's YouTube channel.

Less than an hour to go

There's just under an hour left until the Pokemon Presents livestream starts. It gets underway at 2pm GMT / 9am PT / 6am ET.

To recap what will be announced, what we know for sure so far is that a new anime called Dragonite and the Postman will be broadcast on Pokemon's official YouTube channel today (27 February).

There's expectation from the Pokemon community that there will be an update on Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon HOME could be making a comeback.

There have been rumours swirling about Pokemon Gen 1-3 re-releasing and a new booster pack for Pokemon TCG Pocket seems to already have been leaked early online.

It's likely there will be updates on Pokemon Go and Pokemon Unite too and there could be further anime updates as well.

Pokemon fans surprisingly split over rumoured Yellow, Crystal and Emerald re-releases

Rumours have been swirling that the most iconic Pokemon games of all time are re-releasing - and fans seem to be surprisingly split over a certain aspect of it.

A 'leak' from a 4chan poster claims Nintendo and Pokemon Works are teaming up to release two Pokemon bundles called Pokemon Memories and Pokemon Reminisce.

Pokemon Reminisce would include Blue, Silver, Sapphire and LeafGreen whereas Pokemon Memories would have Red, Gold, Ruby and FireRed.

Yellow, Crystal and Emerald would be available as bonus digital codes in a 'double pack' including both collections.The leak claims there will be digital and physical releases on March 13 although a price is not known. All games would be available individually digitally too.

The bundles would not be included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service where classic titles on older consoles can be played.

And it's this element that fans are split on - while everyone seems keen for the leaks to come true, some are not happy they would have to buy the games and they wouldn't be included as part of Nintendo's subscription service for the Switch.

To be clear, this is just rumour and has not been confirmed.

Read the full article here.

Pokemon TCG Pocket brand new booster pack leaked early online

A new booster pack coming to Pokemon TCG Pocket has been leaked online after it was claimed it was uploaded to Pokemon's TikTok account "early by mistake".

New booster packs have been releasing so players have more cards to collect, trade and battle.

But the latest one, expected to be officially revealed during the Pokemon Presents event, appears to have been leaked online.

Read the full article, which contains more details about the pack and what's in it for those wishing to know, here.

What will be announced at huge Pokemon event?

What we know for sure so far is that a new anime called Dragonite and the Postman will be broadcast on Pokemon's official YouTube channel today (27 February).

While nothing else has been officially confirmed, there seems to be expectation from the Pokemon community that there will be an update on Pokemon Legends: Z-A that's releasing at some point this year, which could be anything from a first look at gameplay, a specific release date being shared or even confirmation the game will have a Switch 2 release.

When a data hack at Game Freak happened in October last year, information from that claimed a new main Pokemon game will be released from 2025 onwards that's not Gen 10 and would be in addition to Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Further leaks from this also revealed Pokemon HOME could be making a comeback but it "will have a different host and developer".

There has not been a full mainline Pokemon game since Scarlet & Violet released in 2022. Rumours have been swirling about Pokemon Gen 1-3 re-releasing too.

It's likely there will be updates on Pokemon TCG Pocket, Pokemon Go and Pokemon Unite too and there could be further anime updates as well.

A new booster pack for Pokemon TCG Pocket seems to already have been leaked early online.

How and when to watch Pokemon Presents

The Pokemon Presents livestream starts at 2pm GMT / 9am PT / 6am ET.

It can be watched via the official Pokemon YouTube channel.

We'll be keeping you up-to-date with what happens through this live blog so keep it locked for all the latest.